Kernow (Ethelred the Pious)



The Kingdom of Kernow, or Cornwall, emerged in the Sixth Century as a breakaway state or sub-kingdom of the Kingdom of Dumnonia. The Saxons called it "West Wales". By the late the kingdom was coming under the domination of Wessex, and much of its land was owned by West Saxon priests. The gradual Saxon takeover of the little country was halted by the Vikings' conquest of England in the 870s.

By the 890s, neither Kernow nor England's Southwest were yet under the control of the new ruler, the King of Jorvik. In 904 King Hogni invited, a Danish chieftain, to settle in the country of Dafna and subdue it for Jorvik. Dafna (Devon) was just across Kernow's eastern border.

Hrolfr made quick work in conquering his new jarldom, and soon was looking to expand his personal power. In 904 he led an army into Kernow. Rather than simply add Kernow to his jarldom, Hrolfr saw the value in allowing it to remain totally separate from Jorvik. He placed his 11-year-old son Vilhalmr, or William, on the Cornish throne.

In 924, Hrolfr backed a losing candidate for the throne of Jorvik. Thereafter he steadily lost influence in England and concentrated more on his Cornish kingdom. Vilhalmer continued these policies after his father's death. In the 930s, he began his own journeys of expansion, adding the isles of Adreney, Wernsey, and Jarsey to his kingdom, then landing on mainland Europe to take the fortress of Carsborg. In order to maintain his independence, William often had to play along with foreign powers and accept vassalage from them: this he did with Jorvik in the 940s and Erik the Mariner, ruling from Ostangeln, in the 950s.

Vilhalmer died in 960. His son was known only by his Cornish name Gwinear. Like his father, he was a Christian and was quite integrated into Cornish culture - even more so since by the time he assumed the throne, his family's title in England had been lost, and Dafna seized by other nobles. Gwinear maintained the Cornish kingdom on both sides of the Channel. During his reign, the Channel Islands were settled with Cornish farmers. He had to fight several times to defend Carsborg and its peninsula against incursions from both Angelania and Neustria.

The Danes under conquered and united England around 1000. Sweyn accepted Kernow's capitulation but made no effort to conquer it upright.

Work in progress.