killed circa king independent anglo saxon kingdom today includes english counties norfolk suffolk member ruling dynasty relationship known members dynasty known certainty anna brother cousin suggested identical married father primary source little known life years followed reign murder son successor lost dominance kingdoms years murder hands pagan returned exile ruled ruling northern kingdom succeeded establishing christianity remained pagan praises accomplishments lack praise ruler significant ruled retired monastery suggested sub king king killed battle unknown location east forced defend military assault led king grave ship burial mound succeeded anna east ruled quarter seventh century powerful southern anglo saxon kings following decades reign onwards increasingly dominated son murdered pagan noble soon baptised reverted years void left death overlord originated north thames pagan emerged challenge pre new overlord rule successor pagan possibly influence temporarily important pillar authority contrast sons brother eager renew christian alliances diplomatic marriages period anna devout christian ruler married woman east saxon connection brother married princess grand niece marriage probably intended reinforce conversion christianity identity member royal family exact descent known information historians named 12th century english historian william stating east origin exiled step son protect inheritance son blood line suggested fact identical son descendants kings son ruled death sons ruled succession indication line extinct marriage suggests expected rule promoted apparently dead time anna ruling gone lead religious life argued fact person suggestion disputed historian notes names distinct compatible placed son son joint rule son renewed christian rule returning christian exile driven assumption power involved military conquest reign devoted conversion people establishment creation school letters monastery building monastery bury accomplished years reign ruled jointly kingdom passage describing reasons mentions king great lover heavenly kingdom affairs crown committing held kingdom went monastery built having received applied gain heavenly throne ecclesiastical history english people according practice ruled individual common occurrence anglo saxon kingdoms kent simultaneously ruled peoples known north folk south folk lived parts kingdom later counties norfolk suffolk notes reigned jointly ruled sub king served administrator region east rising king contrast remained pagan evidence baptised promoted christianity according notes wrote imply christian contrast praise efforts establish christianity reign following christian kingdoms suffered dual shock death hands retreat household bishop york kent situation shared benefits irish missions patron soon arrival retired monastery modern dated left rule east ruled kingdom united spirit roman irish churches according notes respected teachings irish missionaries despite strong allegiance canterbury death ruling years attacked army led date invasion usually given suggests late sufficiently able gather army described splendid realising inferior battle war hardened remembering vigorous distinguished leader east urged lead battle hoping presence encourage flee refused account religious calling borne battlefield refused bear weapons killed slain battle perished flight location site battle east routed king killed unknown presumed close kingdom western border possible contender east king buried mound suggests unlikely successor anna devout christian given ship burial dismiss theory entirely
Ecgric of East Anglia