Baldred of Kent

Baldred (also Baldredus, Baldræd, Baltred, Balred, Bealdred ) was about 821 to about 825 King of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent.

Not only Kent was under the suzerainty Mercia, also Sussex, Essex, Middlesex, Surrey and East Anglia were under the direct control of the ruler Mercia. The only kingdom south of the Humber, which has kept its independence, Wessex was. The circumstances of Bald Reds throne are unknown, but speaks an interruption of the royal coinage in Canterbury by anonymous coins for political insecurity in East Kent. In Rochester, the capital of the west Kent, coinage had no such break. After the death of King Cenwulf ( 796-821 ) of Mercia, who had also ruled Kent directly since 807 came Baldred possibly 821 in Kent to power. Maybe Baldred was a usurper who ruled as anti-king to Cenwulfs successor Ceolwulf I of Mercia ( 821-823 ). Ceolwulf was 823 overthrown by Beornwulf, a relative Soon Reds. Other historians hold Bald Reds setting up as a king by Beornwulf in 823 probable.

In 825 Egbert of Wessex Beornwulf of Mercia defeated at the Battle of Ellandun. His son Æthelwulf coincided with a large part of the army in Kent and sales Baldred, who fled north across the River Thames. After this victory, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the Kingdom of the Kingdom of Essex submitted the rule of Wessex; also East Anglia, that rose against the rule of Mercier, Egbert recognized as Overlord. Baldred it disappeared from the sources.

Swell

• Anonymous: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Online at Project Gutenberg (English)
• Charter S1438