Æthelberht of Kent

Aethelberht I ( also Æþelbryht, Æþelbyrht, Aedilberct, Eðilberht, Eþelbriht or Ethelbert ) (c. 552/560; † February 24 616/618 ) was at the turn of the 6th to 7th century the first Christian king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom Kent of the dynasty of Oiscingas. He is venerated as a saint.

Life

The sources for Aethelberht are in their datings in themselves and each other contradictory and subject of controversial discussion.

Family

Aethelberht was a son of the king Eormenric of Kent. His mother is unknown. After the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he was born in the year 552. According to modern historians consider the birth, however, is likely to be set around the year 560. Through his sister Ricola, who was married to Sledda, he was connected with the royal house of Essex.

To 580 married the pagan Aethelberht Bertha, the Christian daughter of the Merovingian king Charibert I. and Ingo Berga. Gregory of Tours called Aethelberht in this context regis filius ( " son of the king " ), which suggests historian that his father was still alive Eormenric at this time. While some an early date to take 560 for Eormenrics death, others tend to go out of the time around 585/590. Correspondingly unclear whether the heath Eormenric had the opportunity to influence the choice of a bride of his son. Aethelberht initially remained heathen, but was tolerant in religious matters and prevented Bertha not in the exercise of their faith. From this marriage came out Æthelberhts Eadbald son and probably his daughter Æthelburg. The Christian legend has it that even Eadburh, Abbess of Liming, have been his daughter. After Bertha died around 610 Aethelberht married again. The name of this queen was not delivered. After Æthelberhts death in 616/618 Eadbald married his stepmother.

Rule

Between 580 and 593 Aethelberht ascended the throne. He tried unsuccessfully to 590, Ceawlin of Wessex to wrest dominion over southern England. He marched into the region between Andredsweald and Thames (south of London ), but was of Ceawlin and his brother Cutha at Wibbandune ( Wimbledon? ) Beaten and persecuted until after Kent.

Augustine landed on the Isle of Thanet 597. The influence of Bertha, who had (or Letard ) brought her chaplain Liudhard with Kent, may have caused Aethelberht, the missionaries, the Pope Gregory I sent from Rome to welcome. Aethelberht met him for the first time in the open air, in believing, so to be able to distribute the Christian magic. Soon he allowed Augustine and the missionaries but to settle in Canterbury, to preach and to evangelize. Legend has it that Augustine already 597 baptized him at Pentecost. 10,000 Anglo-Saxons should be followed suit within a few months. A letter of Gregory to Bertha, in which he reproved them to neglect the conversion of her husband, suggests that this may not have happened before 601. In another letter, however, Gregory emphasized Æthelberhts contribution to the spread of Christianity. Aethelberht and Augustine were an old church in Canterbury build a cathedral again and formed to a monastery, today's St Augustine's Abbey. In Rochester, the Aethelberht founded the St Andrew 's Church and established a second bishopric, which he endowed with lands.

After the death Ceawlins around the year 593 dwindled the supremacy of Wessex. Aethelberht, who was received by his marriage alliance with Europe 's most powerful state at the time, was gaining influence and was about 600 south of the Humber recognized as the third Bretwalda. The abundance of power related, and the actual area of ​​influence are unknown, but at least on Essex and East Anglia, he was able to exert influence. Æthelberhts influence was strong enough that he could see the auspices of an Episcopal Conference on the border between Wessex and Hwicce, outside the Kentish heartland, take far to 602/603. Also at 602/603 was Aethelberht, presumably under Augustine's participation, write a law book in the vernacular. The newly emerged Church was thus integrated into the Anglo-Saxon legal system. It was one of the earliest written in Old English documents. For crimes in detail tiered fines were imposed. Venerable Bede reported that the laws were still in force around the year 730.

Aethelberht I. converted before 604, his nephew Sæberht, to Christianity and was his godfather. Aethelberht installed him as king of Essex and was in London to set up a bishopric for Essex, which was occupied by Bishop Mellitus. Also Raedwald, king of East Anglia, Æthelbert increased by 604 " persuaded " to accept the Christian faith.

Aethelberht died on 24 February 616 and was next to his wife Bertha in the Martin's Chapel, the mausoleum of the Abbey Church, " Peter and Paul " of Canterbury, was buried. Some historians also hold 618 as year of death is likely. His son was Eadbald successor as king of Kent while Raedwald has been since that time recognized as Bretwalda.

Worship

Aethelberht, popularly it is also called " Saint Albert ," was probably venerated as a saint for his services to the spread of Christianity soon after his death. Since the 13th century, the cult is occupied. His relics were reburied under the high altar of the original church funeral. His feast day was originally February 24, but today is February 25, committed, so it does not overlap with the feast day of the Apostle Matthias. In the iconography he is shown in a vision of how he sees the Man of Sorrows or its suffering tools.

Swell

• The Laws of Aethelberht in Medieval Source Book (English)
• Venerable Bede Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, online in Medieval Source Book (English)
• Anonymous: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Online in Project Gutenberg (English)
• Nennius: Historia Brittonum, online at the Medieval Sourcebook (English)