Eormenred of Kent
Encyclopedia
Eormenred was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Kent
, who is described as king in some texts. There is no contemporary evidence for Eormenred, but he is mentioned in later hagiographies
, and his existence is considered possible by scholars.
Eormenred is described as a son of Eadbald
, who was King of Kent from 616 to 640, and his second wife Emma
, who may have been a Frankish princess. "Eormenred" is a name of Frankish origin, as is that of his brother, Eorcenberht
. Before his father's death, Eormenred married Oslava and had at least four children, possibly five: two sons, Æthelberht and Aethelred
, and two daughters, Domne Eafe
and Eormengyth. Eormenburh may be a further daughter, or a synonym for Domne Eafe.
Following his father's death, Eorcenberht ascended to the throne. The description of Eormenred as king may indicate that he ruled jointly with his brother or, alternatively, that he held a subordinate position while being granted the title of "king". He died before his brother, and is said to have left his two sons, in Eorcenberht's care. However, after Eorcenberht himself died, his son and successor Ecgberht
arranged for the murder of these potential rival claimants to the throne, who were later considered saints. Domne Eafe was not killed, and was subsequently granted land on Thanet by Ecgberht for a monastery, as penance for the murder of her brothers. This land is stated to have previously belonged to Eormenred.
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...
, who is described as king in some texts. There is no contemporary evidence for Eormenred, but he is mentioned in later hagiographies
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
, and his existence is considered possible by scholars.
Eormenred is described as a son of Eadbald
Eadbald of Kent
Eadbald was King of Kent from 616 until his death in 640. He was the son of King Æthelberht and his wife Bertha, a daughter of the Merovingian king Charibert. Æthelberht made Kent the dominant force in England during his reign and became the first Anglo-Saxon king to convert to Christianity from...
, who was King of Kent from 616 to 640, and his second wife Emma
Emma of Austrasia
Emma was a member of the Austrasian royal family. She is sometimes identified with the Emma who married Eadbald of Kent.Emma was a daughter of Theudebert II, King of Austrasia from 595 to 612...
, who may have been a Frankish princess. "Eormenred" is a name of Frankish origin, as is that of his brother, Eorcenberht
Eorcenberht of Kent
Eorcenberht of Kent was king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Kent from 640 until his death, succeeding his father Eadbald....
. Before his father's death, Eormenred married Oslava and had at least four children, possibly five: two sons, Æthelberht and Aethelred
Aethelred of Kent
Saint Aethelred and his brother Aethelberht were princes of the Kingdom of Kent who were murdered in around 669 AD, and later commemorated as saints and martyrs...
, and two daughters, Domne Eafe
Domne Eafe
Domne Eafe was, according to the Mildrith legend, a granddaughter of King Eadbald of Kent and the foundress of the double monastery at Minster-in-Thanet during the reign of her cousin King Ecgberht of Kent.The various versions of the Mildrith legend disagree as to whether Domne Eafe or her sister...
and Eormengyth. Eormenburh may be a further daughter, or a synonym for Domne Eafe.
Following his father's death, Eorcenberht ascended to the throne. The description of Eormenred as king may indicate that he ruled jointly with his brother or, alternatively, that he held a subordinate position while being granted the title of "king". He died before his brother, and is said to have left his two sons, in Eorcenberht's care. However, after Eorcenberht himself died, his son and successor Ecgberht
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....
arranged for the murder of these potential rival claimants to the throne, who were later considered saints. Domne Eafe was not killed, and was subsequently granted land on Thanet by Ecgberht for a monastery, as penance for the murder of her brothers. This land is stated to have previously belonged to Eormenred.