Généalogie and Heritage

Source: The History Files.co.uk

Description

Type	Valeur
Titre	The History Files.co.uk

Médias

URL

Notes


560 - 616 Æthelbert / Ethelbert I (Saint) Son. Bretwalda (591-616). First A-S Christian king. Died 24 Feb. 568 Æthelbert is defeated in battle by Ceawlin of the West Seaxe at Wibbandun. This is notable as being the first recorded conflict between two groups of invaders, rather than a battle against the native British. The location of 'Wibbandun', which can betranslated as 'Wibba's Mount', has not been definitely identified. At one time it was thought to be Wimbledon, but this is now known to be incorrect. Instead it seems likely that the battle takes place near the boundary between Hampshire and Berkshire, probably disputed territory between Kent and the West Seaxe. It seems likely that the aggressive Ceawlin is securing his rear before mounting renewed attacks against the British to the west. Two eorls, Cnebba and Oslaf, fall (their names suggesting an early Kentish source for this account), and the defeat seems to mark the loss of western Suther-ge (the Kentish system of lathes is never as firmly established in the west as it is in the east of the Suther-ge territory). c.580 Æthelbert places his sister, Ricola, on the throne of the East Seaxe as the wife of Sledd. The Cantware still claim overlordship of the East Seaxe at this time. 591 - 592 The usurpation of Ceawlin of the West Seaxe by Ceol, his nephew, gifts the Bretwaldaship to Æthelbert, his only realistic rival for the title - if he does not already have it, as suggested by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and its reference to Æthelbert being 'baptised' early in his reign, ie. about 588. It is possible that Æthelbert may be involved in the Woddesbeorg slaughter of Ceawlin's forces, as Ceol seems unlikely to be strong enough to achieve such a victory unaided. It is another century before the West Seaxe present any serious threat to Kent. 597 Augustine is sent by Pope Gregory to England to establish the Catholic church and Christianise the Anglo-Saxons. He is cautiously received in Kent, thanks to Æthelbert's Christian Frankish wife (although there are signs that Æthelbert himself may have strongly suggested beforehand that the mission be sent), and establishes the archbishopric near Canterbury. He and his followers are allowed to worship at the small church of St Martin's, the only Anglo-Saxon church in existence at this time, before founding a more formal seat for the archbishopric in Canterbury itself, which is probably when the Roman ruins are first properly reoccupied and the city is brought once more into use. The ruins must be extensive, however, as the Roman street pattern is almost completely replaced. 603 The first meeting takes place between the Roman Church in the form of St Augustine, and the Celtic Church (the descendant of the former British Church of the Roman empire period). It is arranged when Æthelbert uses the Hwicce as intermediaries, as they possess a church organisation which seems to have survived intact from prior to the Saxon takeover of the region. The meeting occurs at a place Bede names as St Augustine's Oak, on the border between the Hwicce territory and that of the West Seaxe (somewhere on the eastern slopes of the Cotswolds, perhaps near Wychwood in Oxfordshire). The meeting goes favourably well for Augustine. A second meeting is quickly arranged, although perhaps not in the same year. This takes place at Abberley in Worcestershire, probably close to the border between the Hwicce and Pengwern. It is attended by seven bishops of the Celtic Church, along with many learned monks, mainly from Bangor-is-Coed (in Pengwern). The Britons are not impressed with Augustine's imperious manner and the meeting ends in disappointment for the Roman envoy, with no agreements of cooperation or unity being reached between the twochurches, especially in regard to the important question of the calculations for Easter and evangelising the pagan English. The failure is not only a blow for the Roman Church in England (from which it eventually recovers), but also for Æthelbert's prestige as Bretwalda (which does not recover). From this point, Kent undergoes a slow but unstoppable decline in importance and influence.

560 - 616 Æthelbert / Ethelbert I (Saint) Son. Bretwalda (591-616). First A-S Christian king. Died 24 Feb.

568 Æthelbert is defeated in battle by Ceawlin of the West Seaxe at Wibbandun. This is notable as being the first recorded conflict between two groups of invaders, rather than a battle against the native British. The location of 'Wibbandun', which can betranslated as 'Wibba's Mount', has not been definitely identified. At one time it was thought to be Wimbledon, but this is now known to be incorrect. Instead it seems likely that the battle takes place near the boundary between Hampshire and Berkshire, probably disputed territory between Kent and the West Seaxe.

It seems likely that the aggressive Ceawlin is securing his rear before mounting renewed attacks against the British to the west. Two eorls, Cnebba and Oslaf, fall (their names suggesting an early Kentish source for this account), and the defeat seems to mark the loss of western Suther-ge (the Kentish system of lathes is never as firmly established in the west as it is in the east of the Suther-ge territory).

c.580 Æthelbert places his sister, Ricola, on the throne of the East Seaxe as the wife of Sledd. The Cantware still claim overlordship of the East Seaxe at this time.

591 - 592

The usurpation of Ceawlin of the West Seaxe by Ceol, his nephew, gifts the Bretwaldaship to Æthelbert, his only realistic rival for the title - if he does not already have it, as suggested by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and its reference to Æthelbert being 'baptised' early in his reign, ie. about 588. It is possible that Æthelbert may be involved in the Woddesbeorg slaughter of Ceawlin's forces, as Ceol seems unlikely to be strong enough to achieve such a victory unaided. It is another century before the West Seaxe present any serious threat to Kent.

597 Augustine is sent by Pope Gregory to England to establish the Catholic church and Christianise the Anglo-Saxons. He is cautiously received in Kent, thanks to Æthelbert's Christian Frankish wife (although there are signs that Æthelbert himself may have strongly suggested beforehand that the mission be sent), and establishes the archbishopric near Canterbury. He and his followers are allowed to worship at the small church of St Martin's, the only Anglo-Saxon church in existence at this time, before founding a more formal seat for the archbishopric in Canterbury itself, which is probably when the Roman ruins are first properly reoccupied and the city is brought once more into use. The ruins must be extensive, however, as the Roman street pattern is almost completely replaced.
603

The first meeting takes place between the Roman Church in the form of St Augustine, and the Celtic Church (the descendant of the former British Church of the Roman empire period). It is arranged when Æthelbert uses the Hwicce as intermediaries, as they possess a church organisation which seems to have survived intact from prior to the Saxon takeover of the region. The meeting occurs at a place Bede names as St Augustine's Oak, on the border between the Hwicce territory and that of the West Seaxe (somewhere on the eastern slopes of the Cotswolds, perhaps near Wychwood in Oxfordshire). The meeting goes favourably well for Augustine.

A second meeting is quickly arranged, although perhaps not in the same year. This takes place at Abberley in Worcestershire, probably close to the border between the Hwicce and Pengwern. It is attended by seven bishops of the Celtic Church, along with many learned monks, mainly from Bangor-is-Coed (in Pengwern). The Britons are not impressed with Augustine's imperious manner and the meeting ends in disappointment for the Roman envoy, with no agreements of cooperation or unity being reached between the twochurches, especially in regard to the important question of the calculations for Easter and evangelising the pagan English.

The failure is not only a blow for the Roman Church in England (from which it eventually recovers), but also for Æthelbert's prestige as Bretwalda (which does not recover). From this point, Kent undergoes a slow but unstoppable decline in importance and influence.