View source for Wessex

{{Infobox former country
| native_name            = {{native name|ang|Westseaxna rīce}}
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of the West Saxons
| common_name            = Wessex
| era                    = [[Heptarchy]]
| status                 = 
| status_text            = 
| government_type        = [[Absolute Monarchy]]
| event_start            = 
| date_start             = 
| year_start             = 519
| event_end              = 
| date_end               = 
| year_end               = 927
| event1                 = 
| date_event1            = 
| event2                 = 
| date_event2            = 
| event3                 = 
| date_event3            = 
| event4                 = 
| date_event4            = 
| p1                     = Sub-Roman Britain
| flag_p1                = Labarum.svg
| border_p1              = no
| s1                     = Kingdom of England
|flag_s1                = Flag of England.svg
| border_s1              = no
| image_flag             = FlagOfWessex.svg
| flag                   =
| flag_type              = Flag of Wessex
| image_coat             = 
| symbol_type_article    = 
| symbol_type            = 
| image_map              = Map of Wessex in 900.png
| image_map_caption      = The Kingdom of Wessex in 900 AD
| capital                = [[Winchester]]
| largest_city           = Winchester
| national_motto         = 
| national_anthem        =
| official_languages     = [[Old English language|Old English]]
| common_languages       = Old English (official), [[Latin language|Latin]] 
| religion               = {{plainlist|
* [[Paganism]] (519–632)
* [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] (632–927)
}}
| currency               = [[Penny]]
| title_leader           = [[List of monarchs of Wessex|King]]
| leader1                = [[Cerdic of Wessex|Cerdic]]
| leader2                = [[Athelstan]]
| year_leader1           = 519–534 (first)
| year_leader2           = 924–927 (last)
| legislature            = [[Witenagemot]]
| stat_year1             = 
| stat_area1             = 
| stat_pop1              = 
| footnotes              = 
}}
[[File:British isles 802.jpg|thumb|Map of the British Isles circa 802]]
'''Wessex''' was an old [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] kingdom before [[England]] became one country. It was one of seven kingdoms in England. It was named after the West Saxons. It was in the south and southwest of England. Wessex was a kingdom from the 6th century until the English state was made in the 9th century. It was an [[earl]]dom between 1016 and 1066. Then "Wessex" was not an official place name. The 19th century [[novel]]ist [[Thomas Hardy]] wrote about Wessex in his books which tell stories set in that area.

[[His Royal Highness]] [[Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|The Prince Edward]] was given the title "Earl of Wessex" when he married Sophie who became the Countess of Wessex. The title Earl of Wessex had not been used since the last earl, King [[Harold Godwinson]], was killed at the [[Battle of Hastings]] in 1066.

{{multistub|geo|UK|history}}

[[Category:Anglo-Saxons]]
[[Category:Petty kingdoms of England]]
[[Category:6th-century establishments in England]]
[[Category:920s disestablishments]]