626. West Saxon Cwichelm tries to assassinate Edwin of Northumbria
Northumbrians launch a revenge attack on the West Saxons
Bede tells this story as part of the tale of the conversion of Northumbria (HE, ii.9; see entry on 625-7). Cwichelm, whom Bede calls king of the West Saxons (the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle usually presents him as acting with his father king Cynegils), sent Eomer, an assassin, to Edwin's court. In the midst of delivering his pretend message from his lord, Eomer leapt up, drew his poisoned sword, and rushed at the king. A thegn called Lilla quickly got in the way, and Eomer killed him outright and wounded the king behind him. Eomer was surrounded and slain.
When Edwin recovered from his wound, he gathered his army and marched against the West Saxons, and had a victorious campaign in which he slew or forced to surrender all those he discovered to have plotted his death. (The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle notes that Edwin took an army into Wessex and destroyed there five kings, and killed many other people. We cannot say who these five kings were: Cynegils and Cwichelm certainly survived.)