known old english noble ruler reigned 7th century king long lived kingdom today includes english counties norfolk suffolk member dynasty ruled centre royal authority monastery east emerging port vicinity lived time political religious christian kings decades prior succession died violent deaths having proved task defending newly converted kingdom attacks neighbouring kingdom led pagan king rule died succeeded son brother records relating survived known life reign succeeded elder brother killed battle rule witnessed setback aspirations dominate neighbours following battle murder son king decade existence england christian roman rite centred canterbury celtic rite based roman cause prevailed division ecclesiastical authorities ceased persuaded adopt christianity baptised present sponsor closely allied kent lands means royal marriages east historical context emergence history kings known english people compiled monk list collection dating ancestry traced fourteen generations long lived kingdom northern southern existed corresponding modern english counties norfolk suffolk formed 5th century following ending roman power britain east britain settled early date continent 5th century groups settlers mixed stock migrated major rivers inland known people settled angles originally denmark 6th century new settlements appeared river systems east coast including settlers unaffected roman urban religion language region fell control new kingdoms formed replacing function roman surrounded sea large defensive earthworks devil wide rivers acted rest britain land east angles eventually united single ruling dynasty successors king known described son father reigned approximately according converted christianity court overlord kent later reign powerful hold anglo saxon kingdoms defeated installed exiled new king thought given ship burial interred magnificent array personal treasures symbols power discovered mound suffolk son succeeded reigned briefly killed soon baptism named east angles reverted replaced christian education ensured christianity joint reign east established overthrown slain kingdom ravaged supported turned king routed east army battle predecessor perished successor brother anna renowned devout christianity children proved ineffective preventing invaded following attack monastery anna exiled possibly kingdom return attacked anna forces defeated killed reign successor brother eclipsed battle near leeds slain fighting new political situation arose son ruled province christian king succeeded king murdered year later death dealt severe blow aspirations dominion kingdoms england sphere royal seat specified seals evident importance estuary centre royal power demonstrated earlier period royal cemetery short distance site monastery stands strategic point rivers estuary intersects peninsula major rivers dedication church suggests early primary connection royal dwelling mentioned rochester claimed thirteenth century immediately sphere archaeologists revealed modern ford river estuary growing importance centre trade continent direct royal patronage descent family accession old english noble ruler member dynasty youngest son nephew brothers anna ruled succession accession mentioned 12th century historian william anna succeeded brother slain king auxiliary actually supporting brother brother succession left kingdom sons alliances bound kingdom strongly christian kingdom kent eldest daughter elder brother anna kent queen western stronghold held sister like kent attached important connection established monastery identified later burial place kings sister married youngest brother reign christianity influence celtic rite strong whilst monastery existed authority east christianity resided east canterbury began build monastery tidal island site suffolk year anna killed battle successfully persuaded east receive baptism disciple diverted mission convert people built monasteries south old roman fort north east essex assassinated succeeded pagan essex persuaded accept faith according baptism took place presence king succeeded kingdom son baptized province king called mansion king brother anna king people godfather east marriage alliances early important marriages took place year old son married daughter anna fourteen years older moved live court remained virgin christ marriage continued resolve bride result expect father heir retained possession marriage brother emerged safe retreat proclaimed king christian soon converted subsequently married daughter kent soon founded monastery later known abbot following death bishop determined persuade rule favour roman rite christianity kingdoms case debated presence defending celtic rite tradition inherited speaking roman position roman cause prevailed division ecclesiastical authorities set aside accept including departed time plague swept europe victims archbishop canterbury kent died quotations
Æthelwold of East Anglia