King of Wessex. Born the son of Ealhmund, Sub-king of Kent. He was expelled from England in 789 by Offa, King of Mercia, and Beohtric, King of Wessex who dominated Kent. He fled to Charlemagne's court, where he married Redburh with whom he had at least three children. He returned to England in 802 upon the death of Beohtric, taking the throne of Wessex. In 825 he ended Mercia's supremecy with the defeat of King Beornwulf at the Battle of Ellandun. Later he defeated King Wiglaf of Mercia driving him into temporary exile, and becoming King of Mercia in 829. He lost Mercia again a year later but retained control of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. He then achieved the subjugation of King Dore of Northumbria and was called "Rular of Britain" though he was only accepted as such south of the Humber River. He won an overwhleming victory over the Norsemen and Cornish at Hingston Down in 836. Upon his death three years later, his will left land only to sons, apparently so that family wealth would not be lost to the royal house through marriage, solidifying his line's claims to power. He is considered to have paved the way for national unification which was achieved in the 10th century. During the English civil war, Parliamentarian soldiers violated his grave and smashed the windows of the cathedral with the bones from the royal graves. With the restoration of the monarchy, all the scattered bones were gathered up and placed in the present mortuary chests. His name has also been recorded as Ecgbeorht and Egberht.
King of Wessex. Born the son of Ealhmund, Sub-king of Kent. He was expelled from England in 789 by Offa, King of Mercia, and Beohtric, King of Wessex who dominated Kent. He fled to Charlemagne's court, where he married Redburh with whom he had at least three children. He returned to England in 802 upon the death of Beohtric, taking the throne of Wessex. In 825 he ended Mercia's supremecy with the defeat of King Beornwulf at the Battle of Ellandun. Later he defeated King Wiglaf of Mercia driving him into temporary exile, and becoming King of Mercia in 829. He lost Mercia again a year later but retained control of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. He then achieved the subjugation of King Dore of Northumbria and was called "Rular of Britain" though he was only accepted as such south of the Humber River. He won an overwhleming victory over the Norsemen and Cornish at Hingston Down in 836. Upon his death three years later, his will left land only to sons, apparently so that family wealth would not be lost to the royal house through marriage, solidifying his line's claims to power. He is considered to have paved the way for national unification which was achieved in the 10th century. During the English civil war, Parliamentarian soldiers violated his grave and smashed the windows of the cathedral with the bones from the royal graves. With the restoration of the monarchy, all the scattered bones were gathered up and placed in the present mortuary chests. His name has also been recorded as Ecgbeorht and Egberht.
Bio by: Iola
Family Members
Children
Advertisement
