Eormenric of Kent

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eormenric of Kent was King of Kent from circa 534/540 to 564/580. His father may have been Octa of Kent, whom Eormenric succeeded. His son, Ethelbert of Kent, in turn succeeded him circa 580/590, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

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.