496

Year 496 was a leap year starting on Monday. This year marked the Twelfth year of the Pendragon Campaign and the first year of the Anarchy Period.

Events

Salisbury

• Countess Ellen, widow of Earl Roderick and liege lord of the Knights of the Sword, held council and requested fealty and advice from her knights.
• Construction was initiated on a stone wall to protect Sarum, and thereby Salisbury itself, from potential incursions by neighbors - Saxon and Cymric alike.
• Duke Ulfius of Silchester paid tribute to the Saxons to the east, led by Aethling Aescwine of Essex.
• Aescwine came to Salisbury to demand tribute, but was not the only visitor. King Cerdic of Wessex came personally, bringing the decapitated head of Caedwulf as a gift of sorts. Cerdic revealed himself to be the lost son of Vortigern, and that his heritage is half Cymric and half Saxon. He believes this makes him the obvious choice to be the next High King, and wants the support of Countess Ellen to give him legitimacy.

The Border Challenge

• Countess Ellen, at the advice of her knights, did not pay tribute to Essex this year. As a result, the Saxons moved their armies against Salisbury. Silchester did not intervene, and allowed the Saxons passage.
• King Cerdic intervened to reduce the Saxon's numbers, in an effort to show that he is serious about trying to gain Salisbury's support.
• The defense of Salisbury was a success for this year, preventing further raiding but potentially stirring up a future hornet's nest and escalating the tensions between Salisbury, Silchester, Essex, and Wessex.