Æthelhere of East Anglia

Æthelhere (also Aedilheri, Æðelhere and Aethelhere, † November 15 655) was in the years 654-655 King of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the dynasty of East Anglia Wuffinger.

Family

Æthelheres father was Eni. Anna and Æthelwald were his brothers. The mentioned as Enis son in the Anglian collection Æthelric 's probably just a misspelling for Æthelhere. His wife Hereswitha, a sister of Saint Hilda of Whitby, was related to the Northumbrian royal house. From the marriage of the future King Ealdwulf and possibly Ælcwald emerged as sons.

Life

His brother was killed by King Anna in the invasion of Penda of Mercia to East Anglia. Probably sat Penda Æthelhere as a subregulus ( Under King ). Æthelhere was in his short reign seems to be largely dependent on Penda, at least he made him military service in the campaign against 655 Oswiu of Northumbria, Penda and the Æthelhere were initially able to push back. Also Æthelwald of Deira and the Welsh king Cadfael ap Cynfeddw ​​of Gwynedd were allies of Mercia, but left the army appear before the decisive battle of Winwaed at Loidis (Leeds ) on 15 November. In this battle fell both Penda and Æthelhere. While the north of Mercia Northumbria Oswiu and Penda's son Peada went south, followed in East Anglia Æthelwald on Æthelhere.

Swell

Wuffingas Eni of East Anglia Anna of East Anglia Ealdwulf of East Anglia Peada of Mercia Internet History Sourcebooks Project Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England
838415
de