Aelle

Ælle, Aella

Saxon King or warleader of Sussex who, with his sons Cymen, Wlencing and Cissa, defeated the Britons at Cymenesora in AD 477. He fought against them once more near Mearcraedesburna (AD 485) and captured Anderida (modern Pevensey in Sussex) about the year AD 491.

Another source gives that he came from Germany, landed at Cymenesora and defeated a Briton army at Aldredeslea. In 485, he fought a battle at Mearcredesburna and, in 491, with his son Cissa, he defeated the Britons again at Andredsceaster.

According to Bede, he held the archaic title Bretwalda ('Britain-ruler'), indicating a primacy among the Saxon kings. S.G. Wildman suggests he led the Saxons at Badon; he was certainly flourishing at a time when he might have been a leading adversary of an historical Arthur.