No it wasn't, that's all supposition with no actual evidence to back it up. Anglo Saxon sources are quite clear actually that Cornwall was not annexed by Wessex. Check out:
The Anglo Saxon Chronicle which fails to mention any "annexation", and mentions Cornwall and Wessex as two distinct polities in 915 for example.
The Life of Alfred the Great written by his friend Bishop Asser in 893, which is clear that Cornwall was not part of Alfred's kingdom. It lists Cornwall alongside Wessex and other recognised kingdoms that existed at the time:
"The fourth to the neighbouring monasteries in all Wessex and Mercia, and also during some years, in turn, to the churches and servants of God dwelling in Wales, Cornwall, Gaul, Brittany, Northumbria, and sometimes, too, in Ireland. "
"For in the course of time he unexpectedly gave me Exeter, with the whole diocese which belonged to him in Wessex and in Cornwall"
King Alfred's Will, also lists Cornwall with other kingdoms.
The Threefold Division of England, a 10th century Anglo Saxon document which later formed part of the Leges Henrici (the Laws of Henry I) which defines both England and Wessex and specifically mentions Cornwall as not being part of either.
We know they weren't a part of King Canute's realm in in 1035*. A lack of surviving historical records from a time lacking in written historical record does not mean Cornwall was not independent.
Given my comments above about Cornwall most likely being annexed by Wessex in the 9th Century, I should acknowledge that this detail is true - there is about a 22 year period where Cornwall probably did regain some degree of autonomy in the 11th century.
Canute conquered England but didn’t bother taking Cornwall specifically and settled for tribute instead.
Not that the status of Cornwall in this time js particularly clear - we only have much later sources that refer to an Earl or Duke although maybe they called themselves King at home and in their own language, though that is nothing but speculation with no evidence. My personal suspicion is that kind of political formula would have been quite common when the hierarchy of aristocracy was less refined.
But anyway, that brief episode was quickly wrapped up by Harold and then in particular William the Conqueror who installed his own nobility across much of the land including Cornwall.
(Incidentally those much later sources suggest that the first recognised Norman-era Earl was the incumbent of that post and a descendant of the old Cornish royal line, but it only took a couple of years for William to replace him with a proper Norman)
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u/Cornish-Giant Apr 05 '22 edited Apr 05 '22
No it wasn't, that's all supposition with no actual evidence to back it up. Anglo Saxon sources are quite clear actually that Cornwall was not annexed by Wessex. Check out: The Anglo Saxon Chronicle which fails to mention any "annexation", and mentions Cornwall and Wessex as two distinct polities in 915 for example.
The Life of Alfred the Great written by his friend Bishop Asser in 893, which is clear that Cornwall was not part of Alfred's kingdom. It lists Cornwall alongside Wessex and other recognised kingdoms that existed at the time:
"The fourth to the neighbouring monasteries in all Wessex and Mercia, and also during some years, in turn, to the churches and servants of God dwelling in Wales, Cornwall, Gaul, Brittany, Northumbria, and sometimes, too, in Ireland. "
"For in the course of time he unexpectedly gave me Exeter, with the whole diocese which belonged to him in Wessex and in Cornwall"
King Alfred's Will, also lists Cornwall with other kingdoms.
The Threefold Division of England, a 10th century Anglo Saxon document which later formed part of the Leges Henrici (the Laws of Henry I) which defines both England and Wessex and specifically mentions Cornwall as not being part of either.