Sledda of Essex
Encyclopedia
Sledd was King of Essex
in the late 6th century, possibly between 587 (?) - c. 604. Extremely little is known about him.
A West-Saxon genealogy fragmentarily preserved in London, British Library, Add. MS 23211, possibly of the late 9th century, makes him a son and successor of King Æscwine. The post-Conquest historians Henry of Huntingdon
's Historia Anglorum, Roger of Wendover
's Flores Historiarum and Matthew Paris
's Chronica Majora substitute his father's name for Eorcenwine (Erkenwine, Erchenwine). Though their testimony is centuries removed from Sledd's floruit, it is thought that they drew on alternative pre-Conquest material.
Although Æscwine or Eorcenwine is sometimes credited with the foundation of the kingdom, genealogies included in the works of William of Malmesbury and John of Worcester (Chronicon B) make Sledd the first king of Essex and genealogies for Sigered and Swithred in Add. MS 23211 trace the line of East Saxon kings no further than Sledd. This suggests that Sledd may have been regarded as the founder of the East Saxon house. On no known authority, Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris state that Sledd directly succeeded his father on his death in 587.
Sledd married Ricula, sister of King Æthelbert of Kent. His name appears as being the father of Sæberht, whose rule began in c. 604, and another son is named as Seaxbald.
Kingdom of Essex
The Kingdom of Essex or Kingdom of the East Saxons was one of the seven traditional kingdoms of the so-called Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was founded in the 6th century and covered the territory later occupied by the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Kent. Kings of Essex were...
in the late 6th century, possibly between 587 (?) - c. 604. Extremely little is known about him.
A West-Saxon genealogy fragmentarily preserved in London, British Library, Add. MS 23211, possibly of the late 9th century, makes him a son and successor of King Æscwine. The post-Conquest historians Henry of Huntingdon
Henry of Huntingdon
Henry of Huntingdon , the son of a canon in the diocese of Lincoln, was a 12th century English historian, the author of a history of England, Historia anglorum, "the most important Anglo-Norman historian to emerge from the secular clergy". He served as archdeacon of Huntingdon...
's Historia Anglorum, Roger of Wendover
Roger of Wendover
Roger of Wendover , probably a native of Wendover in Buckinghamshire, was an English chronicler of the 13th century.At an uncertain date he became a monk at St Albans Abbey; afterwards he was appointed prior of the cell of Belvoir, but he forfeited this dignity in the early years of Henry III,...
's Flores Historiarum and Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris was a Benedictine monk, English chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts and cartographer, based at St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire...
's Chronica Majora substitute his father's name for Eorcenwine (Erkenwine, Erchenwine). Though their testimony is centuries removed from Sledd's floruit, it is thought that they drew on alternative pre-Conquest material.
Although Æscwine or Eorcenwine is sometimes credited with the foundation of the kingdom, genealogies included in the works of William of Malmesbury and John of Worcester (Chronicon B) make Sledd the first king of Essex and genealogies for Sigered and Swithred in Add. MS 23211 trace the line of East Saxon kings no further than Sledd. This suggests that Sledd may have been regarded as the founder of the East Saxon house. On no known authority, Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris state that Sledd directly succeeded his father on his death in 587.
Sledd married Ricula, sister of King Æthelbert of Kent. His name appears as being the father of Sæberht, whose rule began in c. 604, and another son is named as Seaxbald.