Kingdom of Sussex Monarchs

The Kingdom of Sussex monarch list of kings and ealdormen contains substantial gaps where many of the dates from this time are unreliable. Unfortunately, no authentic South Saxon King list or genealogy exists, which would help us to understand the relationship of the different kings to one another. Consequently, the internal history of the kingdom is obscure, and most kings are known only from charters, some of which are forgeries; so great care is required in assigning dates towards its monarchs. The traditional residence of the South Saxon kings was at Kingsham, once outside the southern walls of Chichester, although within its modern boundaries. Sussex also seems to have had a greater degree of decentralisation compared to the other heptarchy kingdoms. Its charter suggests multiple Kings reigning at one time. For example, during a period in the 760s as many as four or five kings where based within its territory. Eventually the Kingdom of Sussex became a principality of the Kingdom of Wessex. They later amalgamated into the other Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms which created the Kingdom of England, ruled by a Wessex monarch.

Kingdom of Sussex Monarchs
Kings and Ealdormen of the South Saxons
Reign: A.D	Ruler	Notes
c. 477 to c. 514	Ælle (Aelle or Ella)	First holder of imperium according to Bede. First bretwalda according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, who gives the date of his landing in Sussex and battles against the Britons in 485 and 491.
514 to 567	Cissa	Son of Ælle according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Also the city of Chichester, whose placename is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, of 895, is supposedly named after Cissa.
There is no information on the kings of Sussex for more than a century and a half.
fl. c. 660 to c. 685	Æthelwealh	First Christian king of Sussex. Killed by Cædwalla of Wessex. In 661, king Wulfhere of Mercia gave Æthelwealh the territories of Meonwara and the Isle of Wight.
fl. c. 683?	Eadwulf (sometimes Eadulf)	Appears as witness to a possibly spurious charter, S 232, of Caedwalla endowing Wilfrid's monastery at Selsey c. 683. Probably represents Ealdwulf, who lived one century later.
fl. c. 683 to c. 685?	Ecgwald (Ecwald or Ecguald)	Possibly a sub-king who was named in, or witnessess, possibly spurious charters, S 230 and S 232, of Caedwalla endowing Wilfrid's monastery at Selsey between c. 683 to 685.
fl. 685	Berthun and Andhun	According to Bede, these ealdormen of the King, drove Cædwalla of Wessex out of Sussex. Though Berthun was later killed by Cædwalla c. 685.
Subject to Wessex c. 688 to 726
fl. 692 to 717	Nothhelm (Noðhelm or Nunna)	A kinsman of King Ine of Wessex. Jointy ruled with Watt, Osric and Æthelstan.
fl. 692 to c. 700	Watt	Jointly ruled with King Nothhelm where he attests three charters. Some suggest that he may have been also King of the Hæstingas.
fl. c. 700	Bryni	Ealdorman under Nothhelm and Watt.
fl. c. 710	?Osric	Unknown rank or territory but attests to an undated charter of Nothhelm.
fl. 714	Æthelstan	Attests the last surviving charter of King Nothhelm.
fl. c. 740	Æthelberht	A contemporary of King Æthelbald of Mercia and Bishop Sigeferth.
Subject to Mercia 771 to 825
fl. 760 to 772	Osmund	King in the 760s, apparently jointly reigning with Oswald, Oslac and Ælfwald. One of four South Saxon duces appearing on a charter of King Offa of Mercia (S 108).
fl. 772	Oswald	One of four South Saxon duces appearing on a charter of King Offa of Mercia (S 108). Ealderman under Offa but may have been king at some point before that.
fl. c. 765 to 772	Oslac	King in the 760s with Ælfwald and Ealdwulf, and probably also Oswald and Osmund. One of four South Saxon duces appearing on a charter of King Offa of Mercia (S 108).
fl. c. 765 to 772	Ælfwald	King in the 760s with Oslac and Eadwulf, and probably also with Oswald and Osmund. One of four South Saxon duces appearing on a charter of King Offa of Mercia (S 108).
fl. c. 765 to c. 791	Ealdwulf	King in the 760s with Oslac and Ælfwald.
Subject to Wessex from 825
died 982	Eadwine	Ealdorman under Æthelred the Unready.