Chronology of Kentish Kings
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The regnal dates for the earlier kings are known only from Bede, who piously expunged apostates (Unde cunctis placuit regum tempora computantibus, ut ablata de medio regum perfidorum memoria, idem annus sequentis regis), and seems also to have deliberately suppressed details of short or joint reigns in order to produce an orderly sequence (he had no place for Æðelwald or Eormenred). Generally more than one king ruled in Kent. Some kings are known mainly from charters, of which several are forgeries, while others have subjected to tampering in order to reconcile them with the erroneous king lists of chroniclers, baffled by blanks, and confused by joint reigns and kings with similar or identical names. Even modern historians are tempted to fill out the blank prehistoric period with mythological creatures, combine kings with similar names, and suppress multiple kingship, or at least reduce it down to some regular dyarchy. It is commonplace for the later kings to be referred to as subkings, but the actual rank used is always rex, never regulus (except for a late mention of Eormenred). The usual style was simply King of Kent (rex Cantiae) or King of the Kentish Men (rex Cantuariorum). Territorial division within Kent is not alluded to, except by Eadberht I (rex Cantuariorum terram dimidii) and Sigered (rex dimidie partis prouincie Cantuariorum).
Eormenric: Gregory of Tours recorded that the marriage of Æðelberht I took place during the reign of his father, who the genealogies name as Eormenric. Therefore Eormenric can be regarded as the first historical King of Kent (Yorke 1990). But as the date of the marriage is not known, Eormenric’s reign cannot be dated. At least his name is in the correct form for a member of the dynasty, both Eormen- and –ric occur again, as subsequent kings include Eormenred, Edric and Ælfric.
Æðelberht I was the first Christian king in England, which unfortunately means that he has attracted the attention of calculating chroniclers. He is variously supposed to have been born in 552 (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, version F), succeeded in 560 (Bede) or 565 (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, version E) and died on 24 February 616 (Bede and Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, version E), after a reign of 53 years (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, version E, year 565), or 56 years (Bede and Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, version E, year 616), in addition to which no less than five forged charters are attributed to him (S1[1], S2[2], S3[3], S4[4], S5[5]). Yorke (1990) observed that his attributed reign is improbably long, and his supposed date of accession is earlier than the probable date of his wife’s birth, who he married before succeeding.
Eadbald: according to Bede, Eadbald succeeded his father Æðelberht I and died on 20 January 640. Forged charters us attributed to him (S6[6], S1609).
Æðelwald is known only from a papal letter quoted by Bede (Adulualdi regis). King (1930) boldly identified him with Eadbald, whereas Yorke (1990) more conservatively amended the name to Æðelwald, which makes him a king reigning jointly with Eadbald during the pontificate of Boniface V (619-625).
Eorcenberht: according to Bede, Eorcenberht succeeded his father Eadbald and died on 14 July 664.
Eormenred, brother of Eorcenberht, is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (version A, year 640, late interpolation) and a charter of Oswine (S14[7]), without any indication of kingship. But a mediaeval legend styles him regulus and Yorke (1990) treats him as a subking reigning jointly with his father or brother.
Ecgberht I: according to Bede, Ecgberht I succeeded his father Eorcenberht and died on 4 July 673.
Hlothhere: according to Bede, Hlothhere succeeded his brother Ecgberht I and died on 6 February 685. He is the earliest Kentish king for whom genuine charters survive (S7[8], S8[9]). One charter (S7[10]) is precisely dated to 1 April 675 in the first year of Hlothhere’s reign, which conflicts with accession date attributed to him by Bede, raising the suspicion that Bede has eliminated a short reign between Ecgberht I and Hlothhere (Kelly 1995). At any rate, Bede does record that Hlothhere died of wounds received in battle with the South Saxons, who intervened in support of Ecgberht I’s son Eadric. Two further charters attributed to Hlothere (S1648, S1648a), appear to have been altered copies of charters of Swæfheard (S10[11]) and Swæfberht (S11[12]) (Kelly 1995).
Eadric: according to Bede, Eadric succeeded his uncle Hlothhere and reigned for a year and a half. But this may represent a simplification of a complex situation, as Hlothhere and Eadric seem to have issued a lawcode jointly. Eadric was still reigning in June 686 (S9[13]). A Frankish annal records his death on 31 August 687.
Mul: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 686 Cædwalla, King of Wessex, and his brother Mul invaded, but Mul was killed in 687. Mul’s reign is mentioned in a charter of Swæfheard (S10[14]). Mul’s odd monothematic name literally means ‘the mule’ (Sweet 1896).
Swæfheard’s charter S10, dated 1 March 689, in the second year of his reign, identifies his father as Sæberht, King of Essex (ac consensu patris mei Sebbe regis). He witnessed two charters of Oswine (S13[15], S14[16]), one of which is dated 27 January 690. He was still reigning jointly with Withred in July 692, according to Bede.
Swæfberht issued an undated charter that was witnessed by Oswine (S11 [17]), and is probably the Gabertus who witnessed a charter issued by Oswine in July 689 (S12 [18]). He is usually combined with Swæfheard because of their similar names and overlapping dates, but multiple kingship was commonplace in Anglo-Saxon England, especially in Essex, where Swæfheard originated.
Oswine is known from three charters: S12 [19] is dated July 689 and apparently witnessed by Swæfberht (corruptly as Gabertus); S13 [20] is dated 26 January 690 and witnessed by Swæfheard; and S14 [21], which is undated, but again witnessed by Swæfheard. S14 expresses Oswine’s gratitude for his restoration to the kingdom of his fathers (gratias refero miserenti Deo omnipotenti qui confirmauit me in regno patrum meorum et dedit mihi domum cognationis mee), and S13 refers to Eormenred’s daughter as his kinswoman (carnali propinquitate proxime).
Wihtred: according to Bede, after the death Edric, Kent was ruled by dubious and external kings, until the accession of the legitimate king Wihtred, son of Ecgberht I. Elsewhere Bede indicates that Swæfheard and Wihtred were both reigning in July 692, though he may mean successively rather than jointly. Bede also states that Wihtred died on 23 April 725, after a reign of thirty four and a half years, and was succeeded by his three sons. None of Wihtred’s charters (S15[22], S16[23], S17[24], S18[25], S19[26], S20[27], S21[28], S22[29]) are witnessed by other kings and all the dated charters fall within the dates mentioned by Bede. S15 is dated 17 July 694 in Wihtred’s third year, S20 is dated 8 April 699 in Wihtred’s eighth year, and S1180[30] is dated 11 July 724 in Wihtred’s thirty third year, so Wihtred’s accession fell between 18 July 691 and 8 April 692.
Ælfric acceded with his two brothers on the death of Wihtred, according to Bede, but is otherwise unknown. Kelly (1995) observed that the reign 762 to 796 attributed to him by William of Malmesbury “is evidently fantasy, inspired by a desire to account neatly for all the brothers mentioned by Bede”.
Eadberht I acceded with his two brothers on the death of Wihtred (Bede) and died in 748 (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, version A). His one complete surviving charter apparently dates from 14 October 727 (S26[31]). Another charter, S1611, is an altered copy of S24, issued by Æðelberht II (Sawyer 1968). Other charters attributed to Eadberht I are copies of charters of Eadberht II with “deliberate chronological falsification” (Kelly 1995).
Æðelberht II acceded with his two brothers on the death of Wihtred (Bede) and died in 762 (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, version A). He issued a charter before his accession (S1180[32]), dated 11 July 724, and witnessed by his father. As king he issued further charters (S23[33], S24[34], S25[35]), confirmed a charter of Eadberht I (S27[36]), and he witnessed a charter of his nephew Eardwulf (S30[37]).
Eardwulf is known from two charters, but one is undated (S31[38]), and the other has a date that that is incompatible with its witness list (S30[39]), as it is dated 762, but witnessed by Archbishop Cuðbert, who died in 760. S30 was also witnessed by King Æðelberht II (Aethilberchtus rex Cantie). S31 identifies Eardwulf’s father as King Eadberht I (a patre meo Eadberhtuo).
Eadberht II is known from charters S28[40], S29[41], and S1612. As a result of confusion with Eadberht I, these charters have been subjected to tampering. S1612 is dated 747, but witnessed by Archbishop Bregowine (761-764), as are the undated charters S28 and S29. S28 refers to Æðelberht II (atque clementissimi regis Æthelberti, et corporum sepulture, necnon et pro missarum solemniis exhibendis). Eadberht II also witnessed a charter of Sigered (S32[42]), dated 762.
Sigered is yet another king known just from his charters (S32[43], S33[44]), one of which is dated 762 and witnessed by Eadberht II.
Eanmund is known only from an undated confirmation (S33[45]) witnessed by Archbishop Bregowine (761-764).
Heaberht is known from charters of other kings S105[46], S34[47], and S37[48]. He witnessed or confirmed two charters of Ecgberht II, one dated 765, as is mentioned in a charter of Osfrith, King of Mercia, dated 764 (atque Heaberhti regis Cantiae).
Ecgberht II is known from charters ranging from 765 to 779 (S34[49], S35[50], S36[51], S37[52]), two of which were witnessed or confirmed by Heaberht.
Ealhmund’s name is remarkably similar to that of Eanmund, with whom he has been confounded (Searle 1899). His reign is attested by an abstract from a charter dated 784 (S38[53]) and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (version A, year 784, late interpolation).
Eadberht III Præn, acceded in 796 and was deposed in 798 (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, versions A, E and F).
Cuðred died in 807 (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, versions A and E). His charters are dated 805 (S39[54]) and 26 July 805 (S40[55]), the latter issued in his eighth year, so his accession fell between 27 July 797 and 26 July 798. In two charters (S157[56], S160[57]) issued by Cœnwulf, King of Mercia, he is described as brother of that king.
Cœnwulf is styled King of the Mercians and the Province of Kent (rex Merciorum atque provincie Cancie) in a charter dated 809 (S164[58]).
Ceolwulf I is styled King of the Mercians and also of the Kentishmen (Ceolwulf rex Merciorum seu etiam Cantwariorum) in two charters dated 822 and 823 (S186[59], S187[60]).
Baldred was driven out in 825 (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, versions A and E).
Ecgberht III, son of Ealhmund, issued a charter as King of the West Saxons and the Kentishmen (S282[61]). Another charter, S270[62], in which he is styled Ecgberhtus rex Cantie necnon et aliarum gentium, is considered to be a forgery.
Æðelwulf, son of Ecgberht III, issued or witnessed charters as King of Kent (S282[63], S286[64], S323[65]) and as King of the West Saxons and the Kentishmen (S293[66], S296[67], S297[68], S315[69], S316[70], S319[71], S320[72]).
Æðelstan I, son of Æðelwulf, consented to or witnessed charters as King of Kent (S299[73], S320[74]).
Æðelberht III, brother of Æðelstan I, issued charters as King of the West Saxons and the Kentishmen (S327[75], S330[76], S331[77], S332[78]).
Æðelred I, brother of Æðelberht III, issued charters as King of the West Saxons and the Kentishmen (S338[79], S339[80]).
Sources:
- Campbell, A. 1973. Charters of Rochester. Anglo-Saxon Charters 1.
- Fryde, E. B., Greenway, D. E., Porter, S., & Roy, I. 1986. Handbook of British Chronology, 3rd ed. Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks 2.
- Garmonsway, G. N. 1954. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 2nd edition.
- Kelly, S. E. 1995. Charters of St. Augustine’s Abbey Canterbury and Minster-in-Thanet. Anglo-Saxon Charters 4.
- King, J. E. 1930. Baedae Opera Historica. Loeb Classical Library 246 & 248.
- Kirby, D. P. 1991. The Earliest English Kings.
- Sawyer, P. H. 1968. Anglo-Saxon Charters: An Annotated List and Bibliography. Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks 8.
- Searle, W. G. 1899. Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings and Nobles.
- Sweet, H. 1896. The Student’s Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon.
- Yorke, B. 1990. Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England.
