Aelfwin

Aelfwin, also known as Ælfwine, was an Anglo-Saxon king of centred on the gender of the site first discovered, was thought to be the king of the Gewisse, a Anglo-Saxon tribe that inhabited the area now known as Wessex.

The first historical reference to Aelfwin is found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals compiled in the 10th century. According to the chronicle, Aelfwin was the king of the Gewisse in the 6th or 7th century, although the exact dates of his rule are not known.

Aelfwin's historical significance lies in his possible connection to the legendary King Alfred of Wessex. Some historians have proposed that Aelfwin was the father or grandfather of Alfred the Great, although this theory is not universally accepted.

Archaeological evidence from the region suggests that a settlement existed on the site of the Aelfwin's burial, which may have been a power centre for the Gewisse tribe. Excavations have uncovered a series of burials and artifacts consistent with high-ranking Anglo-Saxon leaders of the time.

Little else is known about Aelfwin beyond his possible connection to Alfred the Great and the archaeological evidence of a high-status burial site. The historical record of this period is generally scattered and often anecdotal, making it difficult to draw confident conclusions about Aelfwin's life and reign. Despite this, Aelfwin remains an important figure in the study of Anglo-Saxon history and the development of the kingdom of Wessex.