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Saxons, which I believe took place took place around the New<br />
Forest area within modern-day Hampshire. It was definitely the<br />
de facto border zone between them, as pottery finds from the<br />
early sixth century mark a very strict demarcation line between<br />
Saxon & Briton all along the Avon. **<br />
Our first clue was written in stone by the 10 th century chronicler<br />
Athelwerd, who added a little gloss to his version of the ASC.<br />
AD 519 Cerdic and Cynric fought a battle against the Britons at Cerdic's-ford,<br />
on the river Avene, and that same year nominally began to reign.<br />
The River Avon roughly divides the counties of Hampshire &<br />
Wiltshire, & flows through the village of North Charford. It was<br />
known in the Saxons’ time as Cerdicesford, appearing in the<br />
Domesday Book as Cerdeford. Its location is excellent militarily,<br />
standing on top of a strategic scarp over the Avon. This defensive<br />
position would also have been supported by the nearby Bokerly<br />
Dyke & Grim’s Ditch earthworks. Near the latter, an Anglo-Saxon<br />
charter names a Fyrdinges lea, which could have evolved from<br />
Cerdic's-lea. The Avon, however, is not our Blackwater. Known as<br />
the Blakwatere at least as early as 1298, the river begins only a<br />
few miles to the east of North Charford, where from its source it<br />
flows into the River Test near a place called Netley Marsh, named<br />
after the British prince Natlanleod who died there in 508.<br />
This is not the only account of the battle we have. In his HKB,<br />
Geoffrey of Monmouth's HKB describes the battle, but this this<br />
time a a victory for the the Britons.<br />
Arthur, therefore, in obedience to the counsel of his retainers, retired him<br />
into the city of London. Hither he summoned all the clergy and chief men<br />
of his allegiance and bade them declare their counsel as to what were<br />
best and safest for him to do against this inroad of the Paynim. At last, by<br />
common consent of them all, messengers are sent unto King Hoel in<br />
Armorica with tidings of the calamitous estate of Britain. For Hoel was<br />
sister's son unto Arthur, born unto Dubric, King of the Armorican Britons.<br />
Wherefore, so soon as he heard of the invasion wherewith his uncle was
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