Æthelwalh

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Sussex in Anglo-Saxon times

Æthelwalh (also Aethelwalh, Aedilualch, Aethelwalch, Aþelwold, Æðelwold, Æþelwald ; † around 682) was king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Sussex towards the end of the 7th century .

Life

The sources of the 6th and early 7th centuries did not give any information about the history of Sussex, so nothing is known about Æthelwalh's direct predecessors. There is also no information about Æthelwalh's origin.

Wulfhere of Mercia took to 660 the successful campaign against the populated by Jutes Isle of Wight and to Wessex belonging Meonwara (valley of the River Meon, southeastern Hampshire ). Both provinciae (provinces), which previously formed a "buffer zone" between Sussex and Wessex, he subordinated Æthelwalh, who probably recognized him as the upper king. Around the year 661, Æthelwalh was converted to Christianity in Mercia at the instigation of King Wulfhere, who was also his godfather. Missionary work on the Isle of Wight began immediately. Æthelwalh was married to Eaba (also Eafe, Ebba), the Christian daughter of King Eanfrith of Hwicce , who was mentioned around 681 as regina (queen).

Despite its proximity to Canterbury, the conversion of the population to Christianity apparently came late, when most of the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had been Christian for two generations. In Bosham (West Sussex) there was a small monastery in which the monk Dícuill lived with five or six brothers, but the population initially stuck to the " old faith ". Around 681 the exiled Bishop Wilfrid came to Sussex and proselytized there with great success. Æthelwalh provided him with extensive land for the establishment of Selsey Abbey. The Episcopal See in Selsey was also established at this time. Around 682, Caedwalla , an exiled member of the Wessex royal family , attacked Sussex with his army. Æthelwalh fell during the fighting and Sussex was sacked. Apparently Caedwalla set up Ecgwald , whose origin is unknown, as a subregulus (sub-king) in Sussex. The fight against the conquerors from Wessex then continued Æthelwalhs Ealdormen Berthun and Andhun .

swell

literature

  • Lapidge et al. (Ed.): The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England . Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford et al. a. 2001, ISBN 0-631-22492-0 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Simon Keynes: Kings of the South Saxons. In: Lapidge et al. (Ed.): The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford et al. a. 2001, ISBN 0-631-22492-0 , pp. 509-510.
  2. ^ Barbara Yorke : Wessex in the early Middle Ages. Continuum, 1995, ISBN 0-7185-1314-2 , pp. 39-40.
  3. ^ A b S. E. Kelly: Sussex, Kingdom of . In: Lapidge et al. (Ed.): The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England . Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford et al. a. 2001, ISBN 0-631-22492-0 , pp. 431-432.
  4. ↑ a b c d Beda: HE 4.13.
  5. ↑ Simon Keynes: Wolfhere. In: Lapidge et al. (Ed.): The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford et al. a. 2001, ISBN 0-631-22492-0 , pp. 490-491; see: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 661.
  6. ↑ a b Beda: HE 4.15
  7. ↑ Charter S230 and Charter S232
predecessor Office successor
? King of Sussex
before 661-about 682 		Ecgwald
Andhun
Berthun
personal data
SURNAME Æthelwalh
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Aethelwalh; Aedilualch; Aethelwalch; Aþelwold; Æðelwold; Elwald
BRIEF DESCRIPTION King of Sussex
DATE OF BIRTH 7th century
DATE OF DEATH at 682