With the Wihtwara album set to release in 2027, I decided it would be wise to educate you wonderful folk about the true history behind the story.
King Arwald was the last pagan king of the Isle of Wight (Wihtland), and indeed the last pagan king of Britain, who ruled during the 7th century. Descended from the Suevii, the people from the Cimbric peninsula (more commonly known as Jutland), his descendants came over gradually, intermarried, and integrated into communities - contrary to what the accounts of Bede (historic writer and monk of the the time) suggest, these people were not barbarians!
King Arwald dutifully reigned over some 300 families spread across the island in small hamlets, devoted to their pagan gods and goddesses. But in 686 the Isle of Wight was invaded by a warmonger king, Cædwalla of Wessex who had spent the last few years mercilessly slaughtering across the south coast. Then, supported by Bishop Wilfrid, he turned his gaze across the solent where he attempted to establish Christianity by force - subsequently killing nearly 1200 Wihtwara - and claimed the island for the Church.
During the West Saxon invasion, Arwald’s brothers were forced to flee to the mainland (possibly in an attempt to protect the kings bloodline), but were betrayed and sent to Cædwalla who ordered the brothers executed. It is suggested that the boys were anywhere from 7-14 years old at the time.
However, bishop Cynibert of Hreutford (Redbridge- Southampton) convinced him to have the boys baptised in an attempt to convert them. Bede (a monk and known writer of the Early Middle Ages) writes that when the executioner came, “they joyfully underwent the temporal death, through which they did not doubt they were to pass to the life of the soul, which is everlasting”. Upon death, the brothers were venerated as saints and collectively known as “St. Arwald” after their elder. Most Isle of Wight pagans still protest the sainthood, and mourn the brothers whose names have been lost to time…
It has since been suggested that the brothers were depicted by Bede as being willingly killed and recounting their faith in order to appease those who sympathised with Arwalds’s family, and preserve the christian ideals, an act commonly used by biased writers of the time.
Despite the insult of having his brothers murdered and thrust into sainthood, King Arwald’s people fought to the end as dedicated Pagans, fighting to keep their culture and their spirituality alive.
I would like to add special thanks to Jan Harper-Whale, I would have struggled a great deal without her priceless knowledge on this long-forgotten history. You can find out more about King Arwald and Wihtland on her website www.the-wihtwara.co.uk
