The oldest documented bloodline in England can be traced back to the royal houses of Wessex and Mercia in the 9th century AD. Several Anglo-Saxon dynasties competed for dominance over the various kingdoms that would eventually unite to become England. Determining the oldest surviving bloodline requires examining the genealogies of these early royal families.
Quick Summary
The oldest proven royal bloodline in England originated with King Egbert of Wessex, who ruled from 802-839 AD. His descendants continued ruling Wessex and eventually united England under King Athelstan in 927 AD. This West Saxon dynasty included Alfred the Great and lasted until the death of Queen Edith in 1075. Edith married King Edward the Confessor, who was part French. Their potential descendants became the basis for later legends about the sacred bloodline of the Holy Grail.
Other very old royal English bloodlines include:
- The Kings of Mercia – Ruled central England from 527-918 AD
- The House of Wessex – Ruled southern England from 519-1066 AD
- The House of Normandy – Ruled England 1066-1135 AD, descended from Norse Vikings
While the Wessex line represents the oldest proven ancestry, the origins of the House of Wessex itself remain obscure before the 7th century AD. Families like the Cerdicings claimed ancient descent from gods or the Biblical Adam, but these links cannot be verified. The oldest parts of the Wessex dynasty may have also been legends used to justify their right to rule.
The Royal House of Wessex
The House of Wessex traced their lineage back to a chieftain named Cerdic who allegedly landed in southern England in 495 AD. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Cerdic and his son Cynric successfully fought the native Britons and established the Kingdom of Wessex in 519 AD. For many generations Wessex expanded across southern England, ruling over the regions of Sussex, Kent, Essex, and parts of Surrey.
The early Wessex kings who lived during the 6th and 7th centuries AD are difficult to confirm from a historical standpoint. The region was mostly oral culture at this point, with few written records. Genealogies were likely manipulated for political reasons. The House of Wessex sought to legitimize their rule by claiming descent from gods like Woden and Geat or mythological ancestors like Adam and Noah.
But by the 8th century, the records become more reliable. Egbert of Wessex had verifiable political power and influence during his reign from 802-839 AD. He is considered the first King of England, consolidating his rule over the southern kingdoms and briefly controlling much of the country during his victories over Mercia in 829 AD. His son Ethelwulf succeeded him from 839-858 AD. Alfred the Great, probably the best known Wessex king, ruled from 871-899 AD.
Kings of Wessex Family Tree
Here is a simplified family tree showing some of the key rulers of Wessex, from the semi-legendary Cerdic to Alfred the Great in the 9th century AD:
| Ruler | Reign |
|---|---|
| Cerdic (possibly legendary) | 519-534 |
| Cynric | 534-560 |
| Ceawlin | 560-592 |
| Cynegils | 611-643 |
| Cenwalh | 643-645 |
| Egbert | 802-839 |
| Ethelwulf | 839-858 |
| Alfred the Great | 871-899 |
By the 10th century, Wessex ruled all of England under King Athelstan (924-927 AD). He was the grandson of Alfred the Great. This West Saxon dynasty continued for over 200 years until the last direct descendant, Edgar Atheling, died around 1126 AD. Edgar’s sister Margaret married Malcolm III of Scotland, so her descendants represent the oldest royal Anglo-Saxon bloodline today.
The Mercian Dynasty
The Kingdom of Mercia was centered in the Midlands region of England and was a powerful rival to Wessex. King Creoda is considered the founder of Mercia in 527 AD, though not much is known about the earliest kings. By the 8th century, rulers like King Offa (757-796 AD) were controlling most of central England and even rivaled the power of Charlemagne on the continent.
In 826 AD, Egbert of Wessex defeated King Beornwulf and seized control of Mercia for several years. This ended Mercia’s supremacy for good. The last King of Mercia, Ceolwulf II, ruled until 874 AD when he was deposed by the Vikings. So while the Mercian bloodline was vast and powerful for over 300 years, it did not survive intact like the Wessex dynasty.
One famous descendant of the Mercians was Lady Godiva in the 11th century, who married Leofric, Earl of Mercia. She may have ridden naked through Coventry to protest her husband’s harsh taxes. Their son was Aelfgar, Earl of Mercia from 1062-1069. So remnants of the old Mercian royal line lived on after the kingdom itself disappeared.
Kings of Mercia Family Tree
| Ruler | Reign |
|---|---|
| Creoda | 527- |
| Pybba | – |
| Penda | 626–655 |
| Wulfhere | 658–675 |
| Aethelred | 675–704 |
| Coenred | 704–709 |
| Ceolred | 709–716 |
| Aethelbald | 716–757 |
| Offa | 757–796 |
| Ecgfrith | 796 |
| Coenwulf | 796–821 |
| Ceolwulf I | 821–823 |
| Beornwulf | 823–826 |
| Ludeca | 826–827 |
| Wiglaf | 827–829 |
| Egbert of Wessex | 829–830 |
| Wiglaf | 830–839 |
| Beorhtwulf | 839–852 |
| Burgred | 852–874 |
| Ceolwulf II | 874 |
The Viking Ancestry of England
In the late 9th century, England was invaded by Danish Vikings, who conquered most of eastern and northern England. They set up the Danelaw territory that enforced Danish laws and customs. Some Danish warriors married into English nobility, creating a Viking bloodline.
For example, King Alfred’s daughter Aethelflaed married Aethelred, Lord of the Mercians. Their daughter Elfwynn married Sigtrygg Caech, a Danish Viking ruler. So even the Wessex dynasty adopted some Danish ancestry. But these marriages also helped unify the English and Danish people into one kingdom under Alfred and his descendants.
The most successful Danish ruler of England was King Canute (1016-1035), who won the throne and united England with Denmark and Norway. His sons Harthacnut and Harold Harefoot continued ruling England in his footsteps until 1042. But once Edward the Confessor took back Wessex rule, the Scandinavian dynasties faded in England. They had created a new blended Anglo-Scandinavian aristocracy.
Kings of England with Danish Ancestry
| Ruler | Reign |
|---|---|
| Sweyn Forkbeard | 1013-1014 |
| Edmund Ironside | April – Nov 1016 |
| Canute the Great | 1016-1035 |
| Harold Harefoot | 1035-1040 |
| Harthacnut | 1040-1042 |
The Norman Conquest
The Norman dynasty overthrew English rule when William the Conqueror seized power in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings. The Normans descended from Vikings who had settled along the French coast. William brought this Norman-French aristocracy to dominate England’s nobility for generations. They spoke French, built castles and cathedrals, and continued ruling England for almost 100 years.
Notable Norman kings included William I (1066-1087), William II (1087-1100), Henry I (1100-1135), and Stephen of Blois (1135-1154). This dynastic line ended when Stephen’s cousin Matilda married Geoffrey Plantagenet, starting the Plantagenet dynasty that ruled England until 1485 AD.
So England essentially transitioned from an Anglo-Saxon nobility to a Norman-French aristocracy after the conquest. Although not technically England’s oldest dynasty, the Normans represent the last major foreign dynasty to rule the kingdom.
Norman Kings of England
| Ruler | Reign |
|---|---|
| William I | 1066-1087 |
| William II | 1087-1100 |
| Henry I | 1100-1135 |
| Stephen | 1135-1154 |
Conclusion
In tracing England’s oldest royal bloodlines, the House of Wessex represents the dynasty with the earliest confirmed lineage. Kings like Egbert and Alfred the Great ruled England for centuries and united the country as a single kingdom under their descendants. The Wessex origin narrative traces back to the legendary ruler Cerdic in 495 AD.
Other very old English dynasties like Mercia and Northumbria faded away once the House of Wessex gained dominance. Later Vikings and Normans introduced new cultural influences and bloodlines into the English aristocracy. But native Anglo-Saxon lineages like Wessex survived intact despite conquests.
The Wessex dynasty continued ruling England until Henry II expanded Angevin control across the English realm in the 12th century. So while the Wessex bloodline itself faded, it shaped English history as the first continuous royal lineage. Their legacy lived on through intermarriage with other dynasties and the enduring cultural influence they brought to medieval England.