Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

The East Seaxe (East Saxons / Essex)

The region of the East Seaxe was settled by Saxons from circa AD 500, and it occupied the former (probable) British territory of Caer Colun, north and east of London. There was probably already a Saxon population in the area from the late fourth century; the descendants of Roman foederati.

Although Æscwine is reputed to have founded the kingdom in AD 527 (Roger of Wendover, in the 'Flores Historiarum'), the length of his reign (to 587) is suspiciously long. It seems more likely that, although Æscwine may have been involved in unifying the East Seaxe, they seem to have been forged into a kingdom by Eormenric of the Cantware. He appears to have ruled the region direct from Kent at a time when Saxon tribes were still forging west and fighting the Britons. It seems likely that his son, Ethelbert, continued to rule the East Seaxe - either direct or through Æscwine - for a time before he married his sister, Ricola, to Æscwine's son, Sledda, while he governed the rest of the Angles and Saxons as Bretwalda.

The reasons for this apparent division of territory is unclear. Perhaps the the task of controlling one enlarged kingdom on both sides of the Thames was too much to contemplate (especially at a time when the first bridge was as far west as Roman London, and possibly even that was in a poor state of repair), or perhaps the Saxons had not yet envisaged larger, unified kingdoms in their newly conquered homeland. The third possibility is that Ethelbert was acknowledging a de facto division, and managed to secure some kind of influence and control in the newly independent kingdom by making sure his sister was installed there, if only as the king's wife.

Thanks to this arrangement, the East Saxons seem to have maintained their strong links with Kent for over a century. They controlled the Middel Seaxe London region itself from circa 600-730, although the city was mostly abandoned for a century or so around 600. Heavily wooded country lying along the kingdom's northern border became a political frontier between the East Seaxe and the East and Middil Engle, and many of the Roman roads through the woods fell into total disuse. Amongst the East Seaxe peoples themselves could be found the Rodingas, based on the modern group of Roding villages in Essex; the Gegingas, positioned immediately to the east of the Rodingas on the other side of the Roman road; the Daenningas, between Colchester and the coast at Bradwell; plus the Haeferingas.

It seems likely that there was not always one ruler of the East Saxons, and power and territory were sometimes shared or divided (as based on the Kentish model), although the kings were of a common dynasty. Because of this, reignal dates often overlap. It is probable that the lesser ruler governed the Middel Seaxe as a sub-king.

c.500

Saxons move into the British territory on the north bank of the Thames Estuary. They find that the Saxon descendants of Roman laeti have already been settled there for well over a century.

The local British administration based at the important sub-Roman town of Caer Colun (Roman Camulodunum, modern Colchester), seems in some way to have been subduing or holding off the new settlers, as shown by the lack of Anglo-Saxon relics in the area from this date, and this surviving pocket of British power may last well into the mid-500s. Very little fighting seems to take place in the territory, suggesting some kind of peaceful arrangement is reached, at least initially.

c.540 - c.550

The Cantware appear to be the ones to lead the 'fight' against the British, perhaps as part of a new wave of more aggressive territorial expansion. Once the defenders have capitulated, it is probably Eormenric who forges a kingdom of the East Seaxe.

540 - 560

Eormenric

King of the Cantware.

560 - c.580

Ethelbert I (Saint)

Son. King of the Cantware. Probable ruler of the East Seaxe.

c.560? - 587?

Æscwine / Erkenwine / Eorcenwine

Reputed founder of the kingdom.

c.560?

Æscwine's name has Jutish origins, so it appears he may not even have been an East Seaxe himself. Instead, it is possible he is of the Cantware and is now placed in a position of authority in the territory by Eormenric or Ethelbert.

587? - c.600

Sledd / Sledda

Son. m.Ricola/Ricula, Cantware princess.

c.580

Ricula / Ricola

Daughter of Eormenric of the Cantware (b.569?).

c.600 - 616

Sæberht

Son of Sledda & Ricola.

c.600

By this time the East Saxons control the Middel Seaxe who are situated in the countryside around old Londinium. In around 604 Sæberht is the first East Seaxe king to be baptised, but upon his death the kingdom reverts to paganism.

616 - c.623

Sexred

Son of Sæberht. Killed in battle against the West Seaxe.

616 - c.623

Sexred shares power with his two brothers. It is possible that they rule by committee, but it is equally possible that they each hold one of the three seats of power in the kingdom, and perhaps in order of seniority, these being East Seaxe, Middel Seaxe, and Suth-rig.

The three rulers take an equal part in making decisions regarding the kingdom, jointly agreeing to expel Mellitus (first Bishop of London, consecrated by Augustine himself). They also reject Kentish overlordship.  Eadbald, the new King of the Cantware, is not able to enforce his claim.

616 - c.623

Sæweard

Brother. Killed in battle against the West Seaxe.

616 - c.623

Seaxbald

Possible brother. Killed in battle against the West Seaxe.

c.623

All three kings are killed in battle against the West Seaxe. It has been realistically conjectured that the dispute concerns the control of Suth-rig. As this would have constituted a direct threat to at least one of the kings, all of them would have been involved in its defence.

c.623 - 653?

Sigeberht I Parvus (the Small)

Probably son of Sæward.

bef. 653 - 660

Sigeberht II Sanctus (the Holy)

Possible son of Sæward, but no written evidence remains.

c.653

A friend of Oswiu of Bernicia, Sigeberht is persuaded by him to restore Christianity in the kingdom. He is murdered by two brothers, possibly Swithelm and Swithfrith, because, according to Bede, 'he was too ready to pardon his enemies.'

c.660 - c.664

Swithelm

Son of Seaxbald.

c.660 - ?

Swithfrith

Possible brother. Bede implies he died before Swithelm.

c.664

A great plague hits the country, and Swithelm is one of its better known victims, along with Cadwaladr of Gwynedd.

c.664 - ?c.689

Sighere

Son of Sigberht I. Ruled Kent (687-688).

?c.664 - ?c.689

Sæbbi

Son of Saeward. Probable sub-king of the Middel Seaxe to 689.

c.664 - c.683

Following the great plague, Barbara Yorke ('Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England') suggests that conflict between Sigehere and Sæbbi ". . . provided opportunities for foreign intervention and the rival candidates appear to have looked to different outside kingdoms for support. Sigehere may have thrown in his lot with Cædwalla of Wessex. A charter of Cædwalla, which Sigehere appears to have witnessed, refers to Sigehere's conquest of Kent. As any such conquest would have occurred at about the same time that Cædwalla's brother Mul became ruler of Kent it is possible that the two men worked together and briefly ruled Kent between them. Sæbbi, on the other hand, seems to have sided with the Mercian kings, and may have done so as early as 664. After Cædwalla's abdication in 668 Mercian support ensured the supremacy of Sæbbi's family."

?c.689 - 694

Sæbbi

Former sub-king.

?c.689 - 694

Upon the death of Sighere, Sæbbi becomes overall king of the East Saxons. This may occur in 688, explaining why Sighere's direct rule of Kent ends. Sæbbi's son, Swæfheard (Suaebhard or Waebheard in Kentish records), is placed in West Kent as a sub-king, and governs the kingdom up to 694.

Sæbbi's second son, Sigeheard, appears to become a sub-king in the East Saxon kingdom (probably ruling the Middle Saxons), and attests a charter with the title of king in 690. He appears to retain the sub-kingdom upon the death of his father, with his younger brother, Swæfred, gaining the East Saxon throne. Between about 700 - 709 the brothers rule their domains without reference to each other, suggesting a degree of alienation from each other.

694 - 709

Sigeheard

Son. King of the Middle Saxons.

al.693 - 709

Swæfred

Brother. King of the East Saxons.

after 694 - 709

Offa

Son of Sighere. A lesser heir although still possessing power.

694 - 709

Although Offa signs some charters with the title of king he should probably be seen as a sub-king. He grants land in Hemel Hempstead as king and also gives land as sub-king in the Kingdom of the Hwicce. He abdicates (or he might have been deposed) in 709 and journeys to Rome in the company of Coenred of Mercia, who may also have been deposed. He is the last East Saxon king to be mentioned by Bede. His name is only one of three which doesn't begin with an "S". His pedigree is preserved in a West Saxon manuscript.

?c.689 - 709

Oethelred

Kinsman of Sæbbi. Witnesses charters along with Offa.

c.709 - 746

Saelred

Son of Sigeberht. Slain.

c.709 - 738

Swæfberht

Of unknown parentage.

c.730

The East Saxons appear to lose control of the Middle Saxons to Mercia.

746 - 759

Swithred

Son of Sigemund. Grandson of Sigeheard.

759 - 798

Sigeric / Siric

Son of Swæfberht. Abdicated and went to Rome.

798 - 829

Sigered I

Son of Sigeric.

c.812

Sigered is reduced in rank by his Mercian overlords from king to dux (effectively a sub-king).

825

Egbert of Wessex defeats the mighty Mercians at the Battle of Ellandon. The now sub-kingdoms of Essex, Sussex and Surrey submit to Egbert and become dependencies.

829

Egbert deposes Sigered.

829 - ?855/860

Sigered II

Possible son.

829 - ?855/860

Sigered II appears as 'minister' of King Wiglaf of Mercia between 829 and 837. His 'reign' marks the end of an independent Essex as Mercia appears to regain temporary control over the kingdom before Wessex integrates it totally into Wessex.

878

Ceded by Wessex under the Peace of Wedmore to the Danelaw, Essex falls under the control of the Danish Kingdom of East Anglia.

918

The Danish Kingdom of East Anglia falls to Edward the Elder of Wessex and southern England is united under one ruler.