WHEN and WHY Cornwall became legally a part of England 😬

Did you know that Cornwall was an independent country before England was? 

After the Roman Empire withdrew from Britain around the 5th century, the Celtic region known as Dumnonia – encompassing what is now Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Somerset – began to emerge as a separate entity. 

Eventually, Cornwall, known as Kernow in Cornish, developed its own kingdom distinct from the surrounding areas.

Cornwall maintained independence and its own rulers for several centuries. 

Even as Anglo-Saxon kingdoms gradually expanded their control over England, Cornwall remained largely autonomous – often allying with Welsh and Breton kingdoms to resist Anglo-Saxon invasions!

So what happened to make Cornwall a legal part of England?

Battles in the Middle Ages

For instance, during the 8th century, King Egbert of Wessex attempted to assert control over Cornwall, but the region continued to retain some independence.

But by the 9th century, Cornwall’s relationship with the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex was becoming increasingly intertwined. 

The Battle of Hingston Down, known as “The Last Battle for Cornwall” in 838 saw the Cornish ally with Vikings to resist Anglo-Saxon domination. 

Though they were defeated, the battle was a shift towards greater Anglo-Saxon influence in the region.

Gradual integration

Over time, Cornwall came under the English Crown’s influence without a formal legal act of union. 

By the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, Cornwall was already integrated into the English feudal system – its governance was controlled by Norman lords. 

The Earldom of Cornwall, established during the Norman period, further embedded Cornwall within the political structure of England.

Duchy of Cornwall

In 1337, King Edward III created the Duchy of Cornwall, granting it to his son, Edward, the Black Prince. 

The duchy established a degree of autonomy, as it came with certain rights and revenues that remain unique even today. 

The duchy status means the Prince of Wales traditionally holds the title of Duke of Cornwall, – the area has a semi-autonomous legal identity within England.

Loss of the Cornish language

As Cornwall’s economy and governance became more integrated with England’s, English started to dominate in trade, administration and religious practice. 

By the 13th century, as English law and governance became more firmly rooted, Cornish speakers increasingly faced a need to adopt English for practical and economic reasons.

The Reformation in the 16th century accelerated this process. 

When the English Crown imposed religious reforms, including the use of the English Book of Common Prayer, the Cornish people, who spoke little or no English, resisted. 

This led to the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549, an uprising against the imposition of English in religious practices. 

The rebellion was ultimately crushed, and the ensuing repression left Cornwall weakened and more vulnerable to cultural assimilation.

By the 18th century, Cornish had retreated to a few isolated communities. 

English was now dominant across Cornwall, aided by factors like increased migration, improved transport links, and the rise of English-language media. 

The last native Cornish speakers died in the late 18th century, marking what some considered the “death” of Cornish as a community language.

Modern Cornish Identity

But today, the Cornish identity is still strong. Recent cultural movements have led to the Cornish language’s revival; it’s being taught in schools and some people in the region are bilingual.

St Piran’s flag has been used since 1838 but to this day, you’ll see it proudly flying all over the Duchy. And Cornish people were given minority status in 2014. 

So, Cornwall functioned as an independent kingdom long before England formed into a unified state. Its incorporation into England was gradual and never entirely erased its separate identity, which is still celebrated in Cornwall today.