Battle of Hehil
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Hehil was a battle won by a British force, probably against the Anglo-Saxon
s of Wessex
in the year 721 or 722. The location is unknown, except that it was apud Cornuenses (among the Cornish).
The battle is considered a notable victory for the Britons and is seen as having secured the independence of Dumnonia
, the Celtic kingdom in southwest Britain which became the Kingdom of Cornwall
.
say that in 722 there were:
"The battle of Hehil among the Cornish" translates the Latin
bellum Hehil apud Cornuenses. Although this source does not specifically identify the Anglo-Saxons as the enemy in all three cases, it is considered that the failure to specify the enemy was simply because this was so obvious to all, and that any other combatants would have been named.
, previously known as the 'Heil', but the Camel is much further west than the known sites of other battles which took place before and after 722. In 653, Wessex
had won a battle at Penselwood
, pushing the West Britons back beyond the River Parrett
; and, in 710, they had won another victory, probably at Langport
, Somerset
.
If there is any key to finding the place, it will need to be in the Annales Cambriae. Three manuscripts of those annals
each spell the name differently: Hehil, Heyl and Heil, suggesting that the word may be the Cornish
Heyl, or estuary
. There are no estuaries now called anything like Hehil, but many places in Devon and Somerset were later given new names from Old English, and few place-names were recorded until the time of the Domesday Book
. If Hehil is an estuary of Dumnonia
, there are many candidates for it, including the estuaries of the rivers Parrett
, Lyn
, Axe, Exe
, Teign
and Dart
. The location of the battle thus remains a matter of speculation.
One historian who has analysed the period considers that the site of the battle may have been "at or near the spot where the fifteenth century bridge at Wadebridge
crosses the Camel". Another has suggested Jacobstow
in Cornwall
, a third states that "The most obvious interpretation of 'Hehil among the Cornish' is the river Hayle
in west Cornwall", and a fourth merely notes that "722 The Annales Cambriae record a British victory at Hehil in Cornwall", while an early twentieth century writer was even more open-minded as to location and called the battle "a third British victory at Hehil in the Devonian peninsula".
victory at Hehil in 722 appears to have proved decisive in the history of the West Britons
, bringing them a long period of peace and enabling the survival of their culture in what are now Cornwall and Devon. It was not until 814 that the Saxons returned to the assault, so the battle is seen as making possible a continuation of the independent Kingdom of Cornwall
until the mid-10th century. Defeat at Hehil might have led to Dumnonia's sharing the fate of the Celtic kingdom of Cumbria
in the Old North
, which disappeared almost without trace. Cumbria had lost its Cumbric language
by about the 11th century, whereas the Cornish language
survived into the 19th century.
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
s of Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
in the year 721 or 722. The location is unknown, except that it was apud Cornuenses (among the Cornish).
The battle is considered a notable victory for the Britons and is seen as having secured the independence of Dumnonia
Dumnonia
Dumnonia is the Latinised name for the Brythonic kingdom in sub-Roman Britain between the late 4th and late 8th centuries, located in the farther parts of the south-west peninsula of Great Britain...
, the Celtic kingdom in southwest Britain which became the Kingdom of Cornwall
Kingdom of Cornwall
The Kingdom of Cornwall was an independent polity in southwest Britain during the Early Middle Ages, roughly coterminous with the modern English county of Cornwall. During the sub-Roman and early medieval periods Cornwall was evidently part of the kingdom of Dumnonia, which included most of the...
.
Source
The Annales CambriaeAnnales Cambriae
Annales Cambriae, or The Annals of Wales, is the name given to a complex of Cambro-Latin chronicles deriving ultimately from a text compiled from diverse sources at St David's in Dyfed, Wales, not later than the 10th century...
say that in 722 there were:
"The battle of Hehil among the Cornish" translates the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
bellum Hehil apud Cornuenses. Although this source does not specifically identify the Anglo-Saxons as the enemy in all three cases, it is considered that the failure to specify the enemy was simply because this was so obvious to all, and that any other combatants would have been named.
Location
The site of Hehil has long been considered to be near the River CamelRiver Camel
The River Camel is a river in Cornwall, UK. It rises on the edge of Bodmin Moor and together with its tributaries drains a considerable part of North Cornwall. The river issues into the Celtic Sea area of the Atlantic Ocean between Stepper Point and Pentire Point having covered a distance of...
, previously known as the 'Heil', but the Camel is much further west than the known sites of other battles which took place before and after 722. In 653, Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
had won a battle at Penselwood
Penselwood
Penselwood is a village and civil parish in the English county of Somerset. It is located north east of Wincanton, south east of Bruton, west of Mere, and north west of Gillingham. The south-east of the parish borders Zeals and Stourhead in Wiltshire, and Bourton in Dorset...
, pushing the West Britons back beyond the River Parrett
River Parrett
The River Parrett flows through the counties of Dorset and Somerset in South West England, from its source in the Thorney Mills springs in the hills around Chedington in Dorset...
; and, in 710, they had won another victory, probably at Langport
Langport
Langport is a small town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The town has a population of 1,067. The parish includes the hamlets of Bowdens and Combe...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
If there is any key to finding the place, it will need to be in the Annales Cambriae. Three manuscripts of those annals
Annals
Annals are a concise form of historical representation which record events chronologically, year by year. The Oxford English Dictionary defines annals as "a narrative of events written year by year"...
each spell the name differently: Hehil, Heyl and Heil, suggesting that the word may be the Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
Heyl, or estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
. There are no estuaries now called anything like Hehil, but many places in Devon and Somerset were later given new names from Old English, and few place-names were recorded until the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. If Hehil is an estuary of Dumnonia
Dumnonia
Dumnonia is the Latinised name for the Brythonic kingdom in sub-Roman Britain between the late 4th and late 8th centuries, located in the farther parts of the south-west peninsula of Great Britain...
, there are many candidates for it, including the estuaries of the rivers Parrett
River Parrett
The River Parrett flows through the counties of Dorset and Somerset in South West England, from its source in the Thorney Mills springs in the hills around Chedington in Dorset...
, Lyn
East Lyn River
The East Lyn is a river which rises high in Exmoor, Somerset. It flows through the East Lyn Valley.-Watercourse:The river starts as the Upper East Lyn at Malmsmead it then flows for several miles, past Brendon and makes confluence with Hoar Oak Water at Watersmeet, where Watersmeet House is...
, Axe, Exe
River Exe
The River Exe in England rises near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, near the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon...
, Teign
River Teign
The River Teign is a river in the county of Devon, England.Like many Devon rivers, the Teign rises on Dartmoor, near Cranmere Pool. Its course on the moor is crossed by a clapper bridge near Teigncombe, just below the prehistoric Kestor Settlement. It leaves the moor at its eastern side, flowing...
and Dart
River Dart
The River Dart is a river in Devon, England which rises high on Dartmoor, and releases to the sea at Dartmouth. Its valley and surrounding area is a place of great natural beauty.-Watercourse:...
. The location of the battle thus remains a matter of speculation.
One historian who has analysed the period considers that the site of the battle may have been "at or near the spot where the fifteenth century bridge at Wadebridge
Wadebridge
Wadebridge is a civil parish and town in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town straddles the River Camel five miles upstream from Padstow....
crosses the Camel". Another has suggested Jacobstow
Jacobstow
Jacobstow is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is located east of the A39 road approximately seven miles south of Bude....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, a third states that "The most obvious interpretation of 'Hehil among the Cornish' is the river Hayle
River Hayle
The River Hayle is a small river in west Cornwall, UK which issues into St Ives Bay at Hayle on Cornwall's Atlantic coast.The River Hayle is approx 12 miles long and it rises south-west of Crowan village. Its course is west for approx 5 miles...
in west Cornwall", and a fourth merely notes that "722 The Annales Cambriae record a British victory at Hehil in Cornwall", while an early twentieth century writer was even more open-minded as to location and called the battle "a third British victory at Hehil in the Devonian peninsula".
Significance
The British or CornishCornovii (Cornish)
The Cornovii were a Celtic tribe who inhabited the far South West peninsula of Great Britain, during the Iron Age, Roman and post-Roman periods and gave their name to Cornwall or Kernow....
victory at Hehil in 722 appears to have proved decisive in the history of the West Britons
Dumnonii
The Dumnonii or Dumnones were a British Celtic tribe who inhabited Dumnonia, the area now known as Devon and Cornwall in the farther parts of the South West peninsula of Britain, from at least the Iron Age up to the early Saxon period...
, bringing them a long period of peace and enabling the survival of their culture in what are now Cornwall and Devon. It was not until 814 that the Saxons returned to the assault, so the battle is seen as making possible a continuation of the independent Kingdom of Cornwall
Kingdom of Cornwall
The Kingdom of Cornwall was an independent polity in southwest Britain during the Early Middle Ages, roughly coterminous with the modern English county of Cornwall. During the sub-Roman and early medieval periods Cornwall was evidently part of the kingdom of Dumnonia, which included most of the...
until the mid-10th century. Defeat at Hehil might have led to Dumnonia's sharing the fate of the Celtic kingdom of Cumbria
Rheged
Rheged is described in poetic sources as one of the kingdoms of the Hen Ogledd , the Brythonic-speaking region of what is now northern England and southern Scotland, during the Early Middle Ages...
in the Old North
Hen Ogledd
Yr Hen Ogledd is a Welsh term used by scholars to refer to those parts of what is now northern England and southern Scotland in the years between 500 and the Viking invasions of c. 800, with particular interest in the Brythonic-speaking peoples who lived there.The term is derived from heroic...
, which disappeared almost without trace. Cumbria had lost its Cumbric language
Cumbric language
Cumbric was a variety of the Celtic British language spoken during the Early Middle Ages in the Hen Ogledd or "Old North", or what is now northern England and southern Lowland Scotland, the area anciently known as Cumbria. It was closely related to Old Welsh and the other Brythonic languages...
by about the 11th century, whereas the Cornish language
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
survived into the 19th century.