(Coinwalch, or Cenwalh), king of Wessex, succeeded his father Cynegils in 648, being still a heathen.. In 645. having been .driven from his countr y by Penda, king of Mercia, he took refuge with Anna, king of the East Angles, at whose court he was converted to Christianity, and baptized by Felix, the bishop of the East-Angles. After three years of exile he returned and introduced Christianity into his dominions. The West-Saxon kingdom was greatly developed during his reign. He is the traditional founder of the see and cathedral of Winchester (Bede, H.E. 3:7; 4:12). He died in 672.