Eadwald of East Anglia
Encyclopedia
Eadwald of East Anglia was the king
of East Anglia
c. 796
-798
. Eadwald was probably in exile during the oppressive reign of Offa (as was Eadberht Praen of Kent). After the death of Offa of Mercia
, who had ruled East Anglia directly since deposing and beheading its king (later Saint) Aethelberht (Hereford Cathedral was dedicated to him) in 796. East Anglia briefly strove for independence under Eadwald, but he was stopped by Ecgferth of Mercia
(son of Offa, ruled 796 only). Independence was then perhaps achieved after Ecgferths death, until the East Angles were reconquered by Coenwulf of Mercia
in 798. Alternatively Eadwald may have been permitted his brief rule by Coenwulf of Mercia (796-821). He died, or was at least deposed in 798. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle omits any mention of an East Anglian monarch for this period. Almost the only knowledge of Eadwald comes from coins inscribed with his name. These are very rare today, with only around twenty known to exist.
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
of East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
c. 796
796
Year 796 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 796 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* December – Coenwulf becomes king of...
-798
798
Year 798 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 798 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Coenwulf of Mercia invades Kent, deposes and...
. Eadwald was probably in exile during the oppressive reign of Offa (as was Eadberht Praen of Kent). After the death of Offa of Mercia
Offa of Mercia
Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796. The son of Thingfrith and a descendant of Eowa, Offa came to the throne after a period of civil war following the assassination of Æthelbald after defeating the other claimant Beornred. In the early years of Offa's reign it is likely...
, who had ruled East Anglia directly since deposing and beheading its king (later Saint) Aethelberht (Hereford Cathedral was dedicated to him) in 796. East Anglia briefly strove for independence under Eadwald, but he was stopped by Ecgferth of Mercia
Ecgfrith of Mercia
Ecgfrith was a King of Mercia who briefly ruled in the year 796. He was the son and heir of King Offa of Mercia and his wife Cynethryth. In 787, Offa had Ecgfrith crowned as co-ruler. He succeeded his father in July 796, but despite Offa's efforts to secure his son's succession, it is recorded...
(son of Offa, ruled 796 only). Independence was then perhaps achieved after Ecgferths death, until the East Angles were reconquered by Coenwulf of Mercia
Coenwulf of Mercia
Coenwulf was King of Mercia from December 796 to 821. He was a descendant of a brother of King Penda, who had ruled Mercia in the middle of the 7th century. He succeeded Ecgfrith, the son of Offa; Ecgfrith only reigned for five months, with Coenwulf coming to the throne in the same year that Offa...
in 798. Alternatively Eadwald may have been permitted his brief rule by Coenwulf of Mercia (796-821). He died, or was at least deposed in 798. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle omits any mention of an East Anglian monarch for this period. Almost the only knowledge of Eadwald comes from coins inscribed with his name. These are very rare today, with only around twenty known to exist.
| Preceded by: Offa Offa of Mercia Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796. The son of Thingfrith and a descendant of Eowa, Offa came to the throne after a period of civil war following the assassination of Æthelbald after defeating the other claimant Beornred. In the early years of Offa's reign it is likely... |
King of East Anglia | Succeeded by: Coenwulf Coenwulf of Mercia Coenwulf was King of Mercia from December 796 to 821. He was a descendant of a brother of King Penda, who had ruled Mercia in the middle of the 7th century. He succeeded Ecgfrith, the son of Offa; Ecgfrith only reigned for five months, with Coenwulf coming to the throne in the same year that Offa... |