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Cenfus and Aescwine were the Kings of West Saxons who followed Cenwalh and Seaxburgh. How were they related to one another?

Cenfus was the father of Aescwine. Both of these Kings had very brief reigns, and the information we possess about them is sketchy, to say the least. It's thought that Aescwine made his mark by successfully repelling the forces of Wulfhere of Mercia, at the Battle of Bedwin.

Who was the father of Centwine, King of the West Saxons?

Cynegils. It is likely that Centwine ended his reign by abdicating and entering the priesthood.

Caedwalla, King of the West Saxons from 685-688, conquered most of the South of England, including Wessex, Sussex and Kent. Where did he die?

Rome. After a successful career as a conqueror, Caedwalla suddenly abdicated in 686 to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. This was most probably as he feared for his life after being wounded. He managed to fulfil his aim of being baptized in Rome, then died a short while later.

Ine was King of the West Saxons from 688, and was on the throne of Wessex for no less than thirty-eight years. Which of these did he NOT achieve during his lengthy reign?

Establishing a Parliament. The hospice was in Rome, where Ine ended his days.

While he had a productive reign in many ways, Ine the West Saxon king did not leave an heir. This led to a dispute for the throne. Who succeeded in becoming the next King of Wessex?

Aethelheard. Aethelheard may have been the brother-in-law of Ine, but we can not be sure of this.

When the next king of the West Saxons, Cuthred, came to the throne, the King of Mercia was overlord of Wessex. Cuthred was able to defeat this King and return Wessex to independence. Who was the Mercian king in question?

Aethelbald. Cuthred had an unhappy reign. His son, Cynric, was murdered and Cuthred was subject to a number of rebellions, notably one led by Aethelhun, an ealdorman.

Sigeberht, Monarch of Wessex from 756, was accused of which crime?

Murder. Sigeberht was unpopular with the Kingdom's more powerful nobles, who accused him of murder, drove him out of Wessex and had him killed.

Cynewulf came to the throne of the West Saxons from which Sigeberht had been forcibly ejected. His luck did not last for long, however - he was publicly murdered. Who was the killer?

Cyneheard, brother of the deposed Sigeberht. The fact that Cyneheard chose to take his revenge in this way suggests that Cynewulf may well have been partly responsible for the murder of Sigeberht.

Beorhtric, king of the West Saxons, married a daughter of which other king?

Offa of Mercia. Beorhtric married Offa's daughter, Eadburh. His reign is also memorable as it featured the first known Viking raids in England.

King Egbert is known for conquering almost all of England and Wales major territories - in fact some view him as the first King of England. Which was the first territory he conquered?

Cornwall. The West Welsh, who at this point mainly resided in Cornwall, submitted to Egbert in 815. The other territories mentioned here came under his rule in around 825.

King Ethelbald of the West Saxons married Judith Martel, after deposing his father Ethelwulf. Why was this marriage later annulled?

Consanguinity. Judith was Ethelbald's stepmother.

After the West Saxons were uneventfully reigned by Ethelred, Ethelbald's brother, Alfred came to the throne. Alfred is popularly known as the first King of England, and achieved a great deal during his reign. For what military advancement is he known?

Division of the Fyrd. The Fyrd was Alfred's force of fighting men. He arranged for one half to be fighting while the other 'rested' and prepared to take over - this ensuring that he had ready, active men to hand at all times. Longbows have been used by various tribes around the world for thousands of years. The trebuchet was invented in China around the 3rd century BC. Alfred did a great deal to develop the usage of ships in battle, but he was by no means the first to do so.

Edward became the King of the West Saxons on the death of his father, Alfred. Whom did he succeed to the throne of Mercia in 918?

Ethelfleda, his sister. Ethelfleda ruled Mercia for five years, after the death of her husband, Aethelred.

Athelstan came next to the throne of Wessex (and England). What was Athelstan's relation to his predecessor?

Athelstan was Edward's son. Athelstan was raised in Mercia. It's likely that this was an attempt to give the Mercians a reason to be loyal to the Kings of the Wessex line.

A number of the Kings of the West Saxons also held the title Bretwalda, which roughly translated means 'Lord of Britain'. From which language does this term originate?

Anglo-Saxon. The first Bretwalda from the line of Essex was Ceawlin.