Died
c. 812-821. According to a popular legend of the Middle Ages, Kenelm was seven
when his father, King Kenulf (Coenwulf) of
Mercia, died, and he succeeded to
the throne...
His sister Quendreda (Cynefrith or Quoenthryth) bribed his tutor,
Ascebert, to murder him in the
forest of
Clent so that she
could claim the throne. Ascebert
did, but when the body was discovered and enshrined at Winchcombe in
Gloucestershire, all kinds of marvels occurred at his grave. All
three are actual figures, but Kenelm did not die at seven and may even have
died before his father. It is certain that he lived until his adolescence and
may have been killed in battle.
He was
highly honoured in
England
during the Middle Ages as a saint and martyr, and
still is venerated at
Gloucester
and Winchcombe, where his relics are enshrined.
In
art, Saint Kenelm is depicted as a young prince with a blossoming rod. The
picture may also contain a dove with a letter in its mouth.
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