Eadric of Kent
Encyclopedia
Eadric was a King of Kent
(685–686). He was the son of Ecgberht I
.
Eadric was for a time co-ruler alongside his uncle Hlothhere
, and a code of laws
issued in both their names has survived. However, Eadric eventually revolted and defeated Hlothhere with the aid of the South Saxons
. Hlothhere died of wounds received in battle on February 6, 685, and Eadric became sole ruler. It was not long, however, before Kent faced the overwhelming invasion of the West Saxons
under Caedwalla
. Eadric was still reigning in June 686 http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+9. A Frankish annal records his death on 31 August 687. A law code, the Law of Hlothhere and Eadric
, is jointly attributed to him and his predecessor Hlothhere.
Kingdom of Kent
The Kingdom of Kent was a Jutish colony and later independent kingdom in what is now south east England. It was founded at an unknown date in the 5th century by Jutes, members of a Germanic people from continental Europe, some of whom settled in Britain after the withdrawal of the Romans...
(685–686). He was the son of Ecgberht I
Ecgberht of Kent
Ecgberht was a King of Kent who ruled from 664 to 673, succeeding his father Eorcenberht s:Ecclesiastical History of the English People/Book 4#1....
.
Eadric was for a time co-ruler alongside his uncle Hlothhere
Hlothhere of Kent
Hlothhere was a King of Kent who ruled from 673 to 685.He succeeded his brother Ecgberht I in 673. He must have come into conflict with Mercia, since in 676 the Mercian king Æthelred invaded Kent and caused great destruction; according to Bede, even churches and monasteries were not spared, and...
, and a code of laws
Legal code
A legal code is a body of law written by a governmental body, such as a U.S. state, a Canadian Province or German Bundesland or a municipality...
issued in both their names has survived. However, Eadric eventually revolted and defeated Hlothhere with the aid of the South Saxons
Kingdom of Sussex
The Kingdom of Sussex or Kingdom of the South Saxons was a Saxon colony and later independent kingdom of the Saxons, on the south coast of England. Its boundaries coincided in general with those of the earlier kingdom of the Regnenses and the later county of Sussex. A large part of its territory...
. Hlothhere died of wounds received in battle on February 6, 685, and Eadric became sole ruler. It was not long, however, before Kent faced the overwhelming invasion of the West Saxons
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
under Caedwalla
Caedwalla of Wessex
Cædwalla was the King of Wessex from approximately 685 until he abdicated in 688. His name is derived from the British Cadwallon. He was exiled as a youth, and during this time attacked the South Saxons and killed their king, Æthelwealh, in what is now Sussex. Cædwalla was unable to hold the...
. Eadric was still reigning in June 686 http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+9. A Frankish annal records his death on 31 August 687. A law code, the Law of Hlothhere and Eadric
Law of Hlothhere and Eadric
The Law of Hlothhere and Eadric is an Anglo-Saxon legal text. It is attributed to the Kentish kings Hloþhere and Eadric , and thus is believed to date to the second half of the 7th century. It is one of three extant early Kentish codes, along with the early 7th-century Law of Æthelberht and the...
, is jointly attributed to him and his predecessor Hlothhere.