Swæfred of Essex

Swaefred (or Suebred) was joint king of Essex along with his brother, Sigeheard, from 694 to 709, succeeding their father Sebbi.

In 705, they became estranged from King Ine of Wessex for sheltering his rivals to the throne. At the Synod of Brentford, they agree to banish them from Essex in return for King Ine promising not to attack Essex. The exact chronology of the later years of their rule are uncertain. It isn't known whether they governed together until 709 or if Swaefred died before then.

Swaefred issued two charters related to land in Nazeing for the establishment of a nunnery,^[1] although these charters only survive in later copies. He issued a further charter related to land in the Dengie peninsula.^[2] A charter related to land in Twickenham (S65) is attributed to him.^[3] This charter has been described as possibly spurious, although more recent writers have concluded that there is no reason to doubt its authenticity.^[4]

In 709, Sigeheard's son Offa was briefly joint ruler of Essex and succeeded them as ruler of Essex, but he later abdicated and traveled with King Cenred of Mercia to Rome.

Notes

1. ↑ Kenneth Bascombe, Two Charters of King Suebred in Kenneth Neale, (Ed), An Essex Tribute (Leopard's Head Press, 1987)
2. ↑ Cyril Hart, The Early Charters of Essex (Leicester University Press, revised edition, 1971)
3. ↑ PH Sawyer, Anglo-Saxon Charters (Royal Historical Society, 1968)
4. ↑ Electronic Sawyer