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 concurrent 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 legend concerning 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).

Hengest - father of Oisc - see Hengest and Horsa

Horsa - brother of Hengest - see Hengest and Horsa

Oisc (Oesc, Aesc, Oeric) - son of Hengest

Octa (Octha) - son of Oisc

Eormenric - father of Æðelberht I - 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 died 24 February 616 (Bede) first Christian King of Kent - 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. 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 February 616 to 20 January 640 (Bede) son of Æðelberht I - 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 - contemporary with Pope Boniface V (619-625) - 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 - January 640 to 14 July 664 (Bede) - son of Eadbald - according to Bede, Eorcenberht succeeded his father Eadbald and died on 14 July 664.

Eormenred - brother of Eorcenberht - 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 July 664 to 4 July 673 (Bede) - son of Eorcenberht - according to Bede, Ecgberht I succeeded his father Eorcenberht and died on 4 July 673.

Hlothhere died 685 - acceded 674 or 675 - son of Eorcenberht; reigning jointly with Eadric - Hlothhere (died February 6, 685) was a King of Kent who ruled from 673 to 685.
He succeeded his brother Ecgberht I in 673. He must have come into conflict with Mercia, since in 676 the Mercian king Æthelred invaded Kent and caused great destruction; according to Bede, even churches and monasteries were not spared, and Rochester was laid waste.
Hlothhere's rule survived this onslaught, however. He appears for a time to have reigned jointly with his nephew Eadric, son of Ecgberht I, since a code of laws still extant was issued under both their names. In 685, Eadric went into exile and led the South Saxons against Hlothhere, who was defeated and died of his wounds.
The above information is derived from Bede, but Hlothhere is the earliest Kentish king for whom genuine charters survive. One charter 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.

Eadric - 685 to 686 - son of Ecgberht I; reigning jointly with Hlothhere - Eadric (died August 686?) was a King of Kent (685 - 686). He was the son of Ecgberht I.
Eadric was for a time co-ruler alongside his uncle Hlothhere, and a code of laws issued in both their names has survived. However, Eadric eventually revolted and defeated Hlothhere with the aid of the South Saxons. Hlothhere died of wounds received in battle on February 6, 685, and Eadric became sole ruler. It was not long, however, before Kent faced the overwhelming invasion of the West Saxons under Caedwalla. Eadric was still reigning in June 686. A Frankish annal records his death on 31 August 687.

Mul - killed 687 - brother of Cædwalla, King of Wessex - Mul (died 687) may have briefly ruled as king of Kent following its conquest by his brother, Caedwalla of Wessex, in 686.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells us that, in 686, "Caedwalla and Mul, his brother, ravaged Kent and Wight." In 687, however, it reports that "Mul was burned in Kent, and 12 other men with him; and that year Caedwalla again ravaged Kent."
In 694, according to the ASC, the people of Kent came to terms with Ine, Caedwalla's successor, and granted him a sum "because they had burned Mul earlier".
Mul’s reign is mentioned in a charter of Swæfheard.

Swæfheard - acceded 687 or 688, still reigning 692 - son of Sæberht, King of Essex, reigning jointly in Kent with Oswine and Withred - Swæfheard was a king of Kent, reigning jointly with Oswine, Wihtred, and possibly Swæfberht.
Swæfheard’s charter 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, one of which is dated 27 January 690. He was still reigning jointly with Withred in July 692, according to Bede.

Swæfberht fl. 689 - jointly with Oswine - Swæfberht, a King of Kent, reigning jointly with Oswine, and possibly also Swæfheard.
Swæfberht issued an undated charter that was witnessed by Oswine, and is probably the Gabertus who witnessed a charter issued by Oswine in July 689.

Oswine fl. 689 to 690 - jointly with Swæfberht and Swæfheard - Oswine, King of Kent, jointly with Swæfberht and Swæfheard.
Oswine is known from three charters: one is dated July 689 and apparently witnessed by Swæfberht (corruptly as Gabertus); another is dated 26 January 690, witnessed by Swæfheard, and implies Oswine's descent from Eormenred; and in third, which is undated, but again witnessed by Swæfheard, 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).

Wihtred acceded 691 or 692, died 23 April 725 - son of Ecgberht I; reigned jointly with Swæfheard - Wihtred (died April 23, 725) was a King of Kent (690 - 725). He was a son of Ecgberht I and a brother of Eadric.
He became king during the period of disorder in Kent that followed the invasion of Caedwalla of Wessex. Oswine, a king who had been supported by Mercia, lost power in 690, but Swæfheard (son of Sebbi, the king of Essex), who had been a king in Kent for a year or two, remained. Wihtred emerged and became king late in 690, apparently ruling alongside Swæfheard. Swæfheard maintained his position until at least 692, but by 694 Wihtred was the sole ruler of Kent.
It was also in 694 that Wihtred made peace with the West Saxon king Ine, which he achieved by paying compensation for the killing of Caedwalla's brother, Mul, in 687. Wihtred produced a law code for Kent, which was notable for its generosity toward the Church, which was granted freedom from taxation.
On his death, he left Kent to his three sons: Æðelberht II, Eadberht I, and Ælfric.
One of Wihtred’s charters is dated 17 July 694 in his third year, another is dated 8 April 699 in Wihtred’s eighth year, and a charter of his son, later Æðelberht II, 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 succeeded 725 - son of Wihtred; succeeded jointly with his brothers Æðelberht II and Eadberht I - Ælfric, King of Kent, jointly with Æðelberht II and Eadberht I.
Ælfric acceded with his two brothers on the death of his father Wihtred, according to Bede, but is otherwise unknown. Kelly (1995) observed that the reign of 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 725 to 748 - son of Wihtred; reigned jointly with his brothers Æðelberht II and Ælfric - Eadberht I was king of Kent from 725 to 748. After his father, Wihtred of Kent died, he inherited the kingdom of Kent along with his two brothers Æðelberht II and Ælfric. Æðelberht II seems to have been the eldest and more dominant brother. Eadberht I died in 748, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. He left a son, Eardwulf, who succeeded as king jointly with his uncle.
His one complete surviving charter apparently dates from 14 October 727. Another charter, is an altered copy of one 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).

Subject to Mercian Overlordship

Æðelberht II 725 to 762 - son of Wihtred; reigned jointly with his brothers Eadberht I and Ælfric, and nephew Eardwulf - king of Kent. Upon the death of his father Wihtred, the kingdom was ruled by his three sons, Æðelberht II, Eadberht I and Ælfric. Æthelbert seems to have outlived both of his brothers and later reigned jointly with his nephew Eardwulf. He died in 762, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (recorded under 760 due to chronological dislocation). He seems to have left a son, Eadberht II.
It is also said that an unnamed daughter married Ealhmund, King of Kent.
He issued a charter before his accession, dated 11 July 724, that was witnessed by his father. As king he issued further charters,] confirmed a charter of his brother Eadberht I, and witnessed a charter of his nephew Eardwulf.
During the latter half of Æðelberht II's rule, Kent was under the overlordship of Mercia, but Æðelberht II maintained his position as king.

Eardwulf - son of Eadberht I; reigned jointly with Æðelberht II; contemporary with Archbishop Cuðbert (740-760) - Eardwulf was King of Kent, jointly with Æðelberht II.
Eardwulf is known from two charters, one is undated, but identifies Eardwulf’s father as Eadberht I (a patre meo Eadberhtuo); the other has a date that that is incompatible with its witness list), as it is dated 762, but witnessed by Archbishop Cuðbert, who died in 760; it was also witnessed by King Æðelberht II (Aethilberchtus rex Cantie).

Eadberht II fl. 762 - jointly with Sigered - Eadberht II, King of Kent, jointly with Sigered. He was apparently the son of Æðelberht II.
Eadberht II is known from three charters. As a result of confusion with Eadberht I, these charters have been subjected to tampering. One is dated 747 (the year before the death of Eadberth I), but witnessed by Archbishop Bregowine (761-764), as are the two undated charters, one of which 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, dated 762.

Sigered fl. 762 - jointly with Eadberht II - Sigered, King of Kent, jointly with Eadberht II.Sigered is known just from his charters, one of which is dated 762 and witnessed by Eadberht II.

Eanmund - contemporary with Archbishop Bregowine (761-764) - Eanmund was a king of Kent, jointly with or in succession to Sigered of Kent. Eanmund is known only from an undated confirmation, witnessed by Archbishop Bregowine (761-764), added to a charter of Sigered.

Heaberht fl. 764 to 765 - jointly with Ecgberht II - a King of Kent in the 8th century, ruling jointly with Ecgberht II.
Heaberht is known from his coins and from charters of other kings. He witnessed or confirmed two charters of Ecgberht II, one dated 765, as is mentioned in a charter of Offa, King of Mercia, dated 764 (atque Heaberhti regis Cantiae).

Ecgberht II fl. 765 to 779 - jointly with Heaberht - Ecgberht II is known from his coins and charters, ranging from 765 to 779, two of which were witnessed or confirmed by Heaberht.
Ecgberht II acceded by 765, when he issued his earliest surviving charter. But around this time Offa, King of Mercia, appears to have been attempting to rule Kent directly, as he seems to have issued or confirmed a number of charters relating to Kent. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a battle was fought at Otford in 776, and although the outcome was not recorded, the fact that Kent seems to have remained independent for several years afterward suggests that Ecgberht was victorious. It is known that he remained king until at least 779, the date of his latest charter.

Ealhmund fl. 784 - father of Ecgberht III - Ealhmund, was King of Kent in 784. There is little historical evidence for his reign. An abstract of a charter dated 784 survives, in which Ealhmund granted land to the Abbot of Reculver. But by the following year Offa of Mercia seems to have been ruling directly, as he issued a charter without any mention of a local king.
According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Ealhmund was the father of Ecgberht III, later King of Wessex and Kent and son of Eafa the West Saxon

Under the direct rule of Osfrith of Mercia (785–796).

Eadberht III Præn 796 to 798 - Deposed and mutilated by Cœnwulf - Eadberht III Præn was the King of Kent from 796 to 798. His brief reign was the result of a rebellion against the hegemony of Mercia, and it marked the last time that Kent existed as an independent kingdom.
Offa of Mercia seems to have ruled Kent directly from 785 until 796, when the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that Offa died and Eadberht, "who was by another name Præn", took possession of Kent. Eadberht had apparently previously been in exile on the continent under the protection of Charlemagne, and his rebellion has been seen as serving Frankish interests.
The pro-Mercian Archbishop of Canterbury, Aethelheard, fled during the rebellion. Cœnwulf of Mercia was engaged in correspondence with Pope Leo III at this time concerning the situation of the Church in England, and in the course of this Leo accepted a Mercian reconquest of Kent and excommunicaticated Eadbert, on the grounds that he was a former priest. Having received papal approval, Cœnwulf reconquered Kent and captured Eadberht in 798. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Cœnwulf "ravaged over Kent and captured Eadberht Præn, their king, and led him bound into Mercia." A later addition to the Chronicle says that Eadberht was blinded and had his hands cut off, but Roger of Wendover states that he was set free by Coenwulf at some point as an act of clemency.

Cuðred acceded 797 or 798, died 807 - brother of Cœnwulf and Ceolwulf - Cuðred was a King of Kent (798 - 807). After the revolt of Kent under Eadberht III Præn was defeated in 798 by Cœnwulf, he established Cuðred as a client king. During Cuðred's reign, the Archbishopric of Lichfield was formally abolished at the Council of Clovesho on October 12, 803, and the Archbishopric of Canterbury thus regained the status of which Offa of Mercia had sought to deprive it. Cuðred's reign also saw the first raids of Kent by the Vikings. After his death in 807, Cœnwulf seems to have acted as King of Kent.
Cuðred died in 807, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. He issued coins and charters. His surviving charters are both dated 805, one precisely to 26 July 805, in the eighth year of his reign, so his accession fell between 27 July 797 and 26 July 798. In two charters issued by Cœnwulf, King of Mercia, he is described as brother of that king.

Cœnwulf fl. 809 - brother of Cuðred and Ceolwulf; also King of Mercia (796-821) - King of Mercia from 796 to 821. Coenwulf became king after the death of Ecgfrith, in December 796. Coenwulf was a descendant of Cenwalh of Wessex (d. 674), who had married and repudiated a sister of the kings Penda and Eowa 150 years earlier; thus Coenwulf was a member of a the Mercian royal line through female descent, which may demonstrate the thoroughness of Offa's purge of the Mercian royal house. See Mercia King Coenwulf

Ceolwulf fl. 822 to 823 - brother of Cuðred and Cœnwulf; also King of Mercia (821-823) - Ceolwulf I was King of Mercia and Kent, from 821 to 823. He was the brother of Cœnwulf, his predecessor, and was deposed by Beornwulf.

Baldred deposed in 825 - expelled by Æðelwulf in 825 - Baldred was the king of the Kentishmen, until 825, when he was expelled by Æðelwulf, son of Ecgberht of Wessex, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, "because formerly they had been wrongly forced away from their allegiance to his kinsmen".

Ecgberht III 825 to 839 - son of Ealhmund; reigned in Kent jointly with his son Æðelwulf; also King of Wessex (802-839) - Egbert (also Ecgbehrt or Ecgbert, means roughly 'The shining edge of a blade') (c. 770 — July 839) was King of Wessex from 802 until his death. Under Egbert, Wessex rose to become the most powerful of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, overthrowing the supremacy of Mercia. He was called Bretwalda ("British Ruler"). See Ecgbert of Wessex

Æðelwulf 825 to 858 - jointly with his father Ecgberht III and son Æðelstan; also King of Wessex (839-856) - Ethelwulf, Old English: Æþelwulf, means 'Noble Wolf' (c. 795–858) was the elder son of King Egbert of Wessex. He conquered Kent on behalf of his father in 825. Thereafter he was styled King of Kent until he succeeded his father as King of Wessex in 839, whereupon he became King of Wessex, Kent, Cornwall, the West Saxons and the East Saxons. He was crowned at Kingston upon Thames. See Ethelwulf of Wessex

Æðelstan I fl. 839 to 851 - jointly with his father Æðelwulf - Æthelstan (floruit 839–851x855) was the eldest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex. He ruled as King of Kent. Æthelweard's chronicle calls him "King of the Dwellers in Kent, of the East Saxons, of the South Saxons and of Surrey".
When Æthelwulf became King of the West Saxons in 839 on the death of his father Ecgberht of Wessex, he appointed Æthelstan to rule in Kent and surrounding former kingdoms. A number of charters issued by Æthelstan survive.
The last record of Æthelstan is circa 851 when, along with Ealdorman Ealhhere, he defeated a Viking fleet and army at Sandwich. Ealhhere's death in battle against Vikings is recorded c. 853, Æthelstan is not mentioned. It is presumed that he died some time after the battle in 851 and before his brother Æthelberht of Wessex became ruler of Kent, c. 858. We could also assume that he died before 856 because if he were still alive when his father died, being the eldest son, he most likely would have inherited the throne of Wessex before his brother Ethelbald. See King Ethelstan of Wessex

Æðelberht III fl. 855 to 865 -jointly with his father Æðelwulf; also King of Wessex (860-865) - King Ethelbert or Æþelberht of Wessex (Means Magnificent Noble) was the third son of Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born in around 835 AD. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbald of Wessex, as King of Wessex in 860, but died without issue in about 865. Like his father and brother he was also crowned at Kingston upon Thames. His reign saw a Danish plundering of Kent and raids in Northumbria, both led by Ragnar Lodbrok. They had also penetrated as far as Winchester in Ethelbert's early reign. He was buried at Sherborne Abbey in Dorset.
He was also King of Kent and issued charters under the style of King of the West Saxons and the Kentishmen

Æðelred I 865 to 871 - son of Æðelwulf; also King of Wessex (865-871) - King Ethelred I (Old English: Æþelræd) (c. 837 – April 23, 871) was the fourth son of Ethelwulf of Wessex. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbert of Wessex, as King of Wessex and Kent in 865. He had two sons, Aethelwold being the elder and Aethelhelm being the younger. Ethelred I was not able to control the increasing Danish raids which devastated England. On January 4, 871 at the Battle of Reading, Ethelred suffered a crushing defeat, although he did hand the Danes a Pyrrhic victory. Soon after, however, Ethelred was able to re-form his army in time to win a stunning victory at Ashdown. However, he suffered another defeat on January 22 at the Battle of Basing and was killed at the Battle of Merton on April 23, 871.
Ethelred is buried at Wimborne in Dorset. Following his death, he was popularly regarded as a saint, but never canonised. He was succeeded by his brother, King Alfred the Great.

TOP