Page "Saint Kenelm" Paragraph 16

Like many medieval hagiographies, St Kenelm's legend appears to bear little relation to any known facts.

It can be ascertained from the wider historical record that, on the death of Offa of Mercia, his son Ecgfrith of Mercia was crowned but his reign lasted only 20 weeks and he was presumably killed in battle.

He was succeeded by a distant cousin, Coenwulf of Mercia, whose son was Kenelm ( Cynehelm ), and this would appear to be the reputed saint.

It is likely that Coenwulf ' hallowed ' Kenelm to the throne, for a letter dated 798, allegedly from Pope Leo III to " King Kenelm ", names Kenelm and gives his age as 12.

In 799, Kenelm witnessed a deed of gift of land to Christ Church, Canterbury, and from 803 onwards his name appears on a variety of charters.

The year 811 sees no more mention of Kenelm ; this was likely his death year.

This all points to Kenelm being 25 years old when he died, not a mere child of 7 years old.

Historical records also indicate that Kenelm's sister, Cwenthryth ( Quendryda ), had entered the cloister at the time of her father's death and was the abbess of Minster-in-Thanet.