In the southwestern tip of Britain lies a land steeped in myth, legend, and ancient history. Known today as Cornwall, this rugged peninsula was once home to the Kingdom of Kernow, a Celtic realm that flourished during the tumultuous period following the fall of Roman Britain.
Origins in the Mists of Time
The roots of the Kingdom of Kernow stretch back to the twilight of Roman rule in Britain. As early as the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, a group known as the Kerns began sailing from Ireland to the Cornish coast, establishing communities in the southwestern tip of the peninsula. This Irish influence would play a crucial role in shaping the distinct identity of Kernow in the centuries to come.
Meanwhile, the native Celtic Brythons of the region, facing pressure from Anglo-Saxon invaders to the east, began a process of migration. Many crossed the English Channel to settle in Brittany, creating lasting cultural links between Cornwall and its continental cousin.
While often seen as remote, the Kingdom of Kernow was far from isolated. Its position on the Atlantic seaboard allowed for maritime connections with Ireland, Wales, Brittany, and even more distant lands. Trade in tin, a resource Cornwall was famously rich in, brought wealth and foreign contacts to the kingdom.
The Emergence of Kernow
The 5th and 6th centuries were a time of great change and upheaval in Britain. As Roman authority crumbled, new political entities emerged from the chaos. It was during this period that the Kingdom of Kernow began to take shape, carved out of the larger Brythonic kingdom of Dumnonia.
Initially, the kings of Kernow were sub-kings within the Dumnonian realm. However, as Anglo-Saxon pressure from Wessex intensified, Kernow gradually asserted its independence. By the 6th century, a distinct Kingdom of Cornwall had emerged, stretching from Land’s End to Truro.
The exact boundaries of early Kernow were fluid, as was often the case in the dark ages period. It wasn’t until the Norman Conquest that the River Tamar became firmly established as the border separating Cornwall from the rest of England.
The Struggle for Survival
As the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms grew in power, Kernow found itself under increasing pressure. The Annales Cambriae records a significant Cornish victory against the West Saxons at “Hehil” in 722 AD. This triumph appears to have secured Cornwall’s independence for another century and a half.
However, the threat from Wessex remained ever-present. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that Cuthred, king of Wessex, fought against the Cornish in 743 and again in 753. These engagements demonstrate the persistent nature of the conflict between Wessex and Cornwall throughout the 8th century.
The Battle of Hingston Down: A Decisive Moment
Perhaps the most crucial battle in the history of the Kingdom of Cernyw took place in 838 CE at Hingston Down. In this engagement, the Cornish formed an alliance with Danish Vikings to face the forces of King Egbert of Wessex.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes the outcome, stating that the Wealas (Cornish) and the Danes were “put to flight”. This defeat marked a significant turning point for the Kingdom of Cernyw. While it did not immediately result in the complete conquest of Cornwall, it severely weakened the kingdom’s ability to resist further West Saxon encroachment.
The alliance with the Danes is interesting, as it demonstrates the lengths to which the Cornish were willing to go to preserve their independence. By aligning themselves with the Viking invaders, they hoped to counterbalance the growing power of Wessex. Unfortunately for the Cornish, this strategy ultimately proved unsuccessful.
The Gradual Decline of Cornish Independence
Following the defeat at Hingston Down, the Kingdom of Cernyw entered a period of gradual decline in terms of its political independence. However, this did not mean an immediate end to Cornish resistance or identity.
In 927 CE, an entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle provides insight into the changed status of Cornwall:
“This year fiery lights appeared in the north part of the heavens. And Sihtric perished: and king Aethelstan obtained the kingdom of the Northumbrians. And he ruled all the kings who were in this island: first, Huwal king of the West-Welsh (Cornish); and Constantine king of the Scots; and Uwen king of the people of Guent; and Ealdred, son of Ealdulf, of Bambrough : and they confirmed the peace by pledge, and by oaths, at the place which is called Eamot, on the 4th of the ides of July [12 July]; and they renounced all idolatry, and after that submitted to him in peace.”
This entry suggests that by this time, the ruler of Cornwall, referred to as Huwal, king of the West-Welsh, was subservient to the English king Aethelstan. However, the fact that Huwal is listed among other kings implies that Cornwall still retained some degree of autonomy, albeit under English overlordship.
Kernow in the Wider Context of Dark Age Britain
The story of the Kingdom of Kernow is part of the broader narrative of post-Roman Britain. As Roman authority waned, various Celtic kingdoms emerged across the island. In addition to Kernow, these included realms like Gwynedd in North Wales, Powys in central Wales, and Strathclyde in what is now southern Scotland.
These Celtic kingdoms faced similar challenges from Anglo-Saxon expansion. Some, like Kernow, managed to maintain their independence for centuries. Others were absorbed more quickly into the emerging English kingdoms.
The resilience of Kernow speaks to the strength of its cultural identity and the natural defenses provided by its peninsular geography. While other Celtic kingdoms in what is now England fell to Anglo-Saxon conquest, Cornwall remained a bastion of Brythonic culture well into the medieval period.
While the independent Kingdom of Kernow eventually succumbed to West Saxon dominance, its cultural impact endured. The Cornish language persisted for centuries, with the last native speakers surviving into the late 18th century. Even today, efforts are underway to revive Cornish as a living language.
