Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

The Cantware (Kent)

Founded in AD 450 (or 449 according to The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle), this was the very earliest of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Made up of a mixture of Germanic Jutes and Celtic Britons, the Jutes were originally used as mercenaries by the controlling British forces. Like most of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, later Kentish folk descended from an equal mixture of both races, Briton and Jute, since the invaders were never numerous enough to entirely displace the general population of Britons. The name Kent is the bastardised Jutish version of the original Romano-British Cantiaci / Cantii (Post-Roman Ceint), and means Men of Kent.

For the first century or so, the Jutes had joint rulers (with the lesser of them controlling the less important West Kent area which may even have been an almost separate principality); Hengist may have led them, but Horsa ruled alongside him until his death in battle with the British, and then Hengist's son Aesc took on the role until Hengist's death.

The (eastern) capital was the Roman city of Durovernum Cantiacorum, called Cantwarabyrig (modern Canterbury, "fortress of the Men of Kent") by the Jutes. Modern Eastry was known as Eastorege, or "Eastern Region." Evidence points to Hengist having been an Anglian, who, during the period of the migration appear to have been overlords of the Jutes. Hengist was a comrade in arms of Hnæf of the Danes until the latter's death in Frisia.

(The dates given below are generally extracted from The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. Some notes for Hengist and Oesc are taken from the Alan Bliss/JRR Tolkein  examination of the fragment known as The Fight at Finnesburg.)

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449 - 488

Hengist

Probable Anglian prince b.c.425.

449 - 455

Horsa

Brother. Joint ruler.

449/450

Hengist and Horsa are invited to Britain by the British High King, Vortigern (English Wyrtgeorn), and land at Ypwines fleot (Ebbsfleet). Traditionally, they fulfil the terms of their contract by fighting back Pictish and Irish Scotti invaders and receive territory on which to settle on the island of Ynys Tanatus (Thanet in Kent).

455

By now the new arrivals have seen how weak the British defences are and have begun a takeover of the British kingdom of Ceint. They are probably further encouraged by the chaos in Roman Gaul following the murder of the magister militum Aetius. They fight Vortigern at a place they name Aegelesthrep (Aylesford or Epsford in Kent) and Horsa is killed.

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Hengist and his son Oisc take the kingdom, but Oisc may actually be an infant at this time and his title is simply to confirm his position as the later founder of the Oiscingas, the house of the Anglian/Jutish kings of Kent. If this is correct then it is not until c.470 that he becomes a warrior.

457

After much hard fighting at a place the invaders call Crecganford (Crayford in Kent), and apparently heavy losses, the British abandon Kent.

465

Hengist and Oisc fight the British at Wippedes fleot (location  undetermined), and claim the slaughter of twelve British leaders against the loss of just one of their own thegns, Wipped.

473

Hengist receives his final mention in British history, despite the "recorded" dates for his reign as the man who paved the way for the Kingdom of Kent. Oisc can be considered to have become a warrior by this point. He and Hengist fight the Britons, taking great spoil and forcing the British to flee "from the English like fire".

488 - 512

Oisc / Oeric surnamed Æsc

Son of Hengist.

488

Traditional date for the establishing of the kingdom under Oisc, which may explain Hengist's given date of death. His actual death is not recorded, so it seems likely that it was a peaceful one.

This is the last recorded entry for the Cantware in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle until 565. The battles against the Britons move further westwards as they lose the south coast to the Suth Seaxe, and Londinium to the Middel Seaxe and their Suther-ge, and the Thames Valley and Ciltern Saetan. It is also possible that the Cantware are involved in the Mons Badonicus defeat of circa 496 and are so weakened that they are simply unable to mount any further grabs for territory for a generation or more.

Also, the influx of Saxon fighters may have slackened since 460, when the prospects for soldiers of fortune may have seemed better in the remnants of Roman Gaul, coupled with the fact that the Britons are apparently starting to gain the upper hand.

?512 - 540

Octa

Son.

512

The name Octa has also been identified with Hengist, and may have been his true name (with Hengist being a nickname of a style that was popular at the time). If so, then either the name of this king has been forgotten in the general confusion with early Kentish names, or it was Oeric, as mentioned only by Bede, a name usually linked to Oisc.

540 - 560

Eormenric

Son.

c.540 - 560

Eormenric appears to be the one to assume formal control of the East Seaxe, who had been settling the territory north of the Thames since c.500.

560 - 616

Ethelbert I (Saint)

Son. Bretwalda (591-616). First A-S Christian king. d.24 Feb.

568

Ethelbert is defeated in battle by Ceawlin of the West Seaxe at Wibbandun.

c.580

Ethelbert places his sister, Ricola, on the throne of the East Seaxe as the wife of Sledd. The Cantware still claim overlordship of the East Seaxe at this time.

616 - 640

Eadbald

Son.

616

Eadbald's claim of overlordship over the East Seaxe is rejected by his three cousins who becomes joint kings there at the same time as Eadbald becomes king of the Cantware.

640 - 664

Earconbert / Arcenbryht

Son. Died 14 July.

664 - 673

Egbert I

Died July.

673 - 685

Hlothere

From summer 673 to 6 Feb 685.

676

Suaebhard / Waebheard

Sub-king of West Kent. Again in 686 or 687 and 689-692/694.

676 - 694

Suaebhard (or Swæfheard) is the son of Sæbbi of the East Saxons. He is a sub-king of West Kent under the overlordship of his father.

?676 - 685

Eadric

Sub-king of West Kent. Became King of Kent.

685 - 686

Eadric

Formerly sub-king of West Kent.

686 - 687

Kent is ravaged, and occupied, by Caedwalla of Wessex. A West Saxon temporarily rules the kingdom in Caedwalla's name, perhaps sharing power with the East Saxon Suaebhard.

686 - 687

Mul of the West Saxons

Ruled in the name of Wessex.

687 - 688

Kent is controlled by King Sighere of the East Saxons.

Some modern sources say Suaebhard is joint king of Kent in 686 whilst others say he becomes king of West Kent in 688. From 688 he rules jointly with two natives of Kent - Oswine and then Wihtred. He signs his last charter in 692 but may remain king up to 694. His fate is unknown, suggesting a peaceful death.

688 - 692/4

Suaebhard

Sub-king of West Kent. And of all of Kent?

688 - 690

Oswini

690 - 692/4

Wihtred

Wihtred became King of Kent.

692/4 - 725

Wihtred

725 - 748

Eadbert I

First son of Wihtred.

725 - ?

Alric / Ealric

Third son of Wihtred.

747

Eardwulf

Sub-king of West Kent. Later King of Kent (762).

748 - 762

Ethelbert II

Second son of Wihtred.

759

Eanmund

Sub-king of West Kent. Later King of Kent (762-764).

762

Eardwulf

Formally sub-king of West Kent (747).

762 - 786

The kingdom falls under the domination of Mercia.

762 - 764

Eanmund

Formally sub-king of West Kent (759).

762 - 764

Sigered

Sub-king of West Kent. d.778.

764 - 765

Heaberht

c.765 - 784

Egbert II

784 - 786

Ealhmund

786 - 796

The kingdom is directly controlled by Offa of Mercia.

796 - 798

Eadbert II (Praen)

798 or 807

Eadwald

798 - 807

Cuthred of Mercia

Ruled in the name of Mercia.

807 - 825

Baldred

Last Kentish king.

825

Egbert of Wessex defeats the mighty Mercians at the Battle of Ellandon. He invades Kent and expels Baldred. Egbert's son, Aethwulf, is installed as king of Kent. The kingdom, which had long been a dependency of Mercia, becomes a dependency of Wessex and is ruled by sub-kings, usually related to the Wessex rulers.

825 - 839

Aethelwulf

Acceded to the throne of Wessex in 839.

839 - 851

Aethelstan

Second of Aethelwulf's six sons.

851 - 860

Aethelbert

Acceded to the throne of Wessex in 860.

860

By this time Kent has lost its status as a separate kingdom and is absorbed into Wessex when Aethelbert accedes to the West Saxon throne.