Eadbald of Kent

Eadbald (died January 20, 640) was the King of Kent from 616 until his death.

He succeeded his father Æthelbert as king. At first, Eadbald renounced his baptism, rejected Christianity, and married his father's widow. He was later converted by Laurence of Canterbury, recalled Mellitus and Justus, and built a church at Canterbury. (However, the historian D. P. Kirby argued that Bede's account is confused, and that Eadbald was more likely to have been converted by Justus.)

In about 635 Eadbald built the first nunnery in England - Folkestone Abbey - for his daughter Eanswythe and her nuns.

He also arranged a marriage between his sister Æthelberg and Edwin of Northumbria, later taking her and Paulinus back when Edwin died in 633.

Eadbald married the Frankish princess Emma, daughter of Theudebert II of Austrasia, possibly in 624, and they had a son called Eorcenberht, who succeeded Eadbald as king.

Gold coins are known from Eadbald's reign, minted at London and inscribed "AVDVARLD".

 

Reference

• D. P. Kirby, The Earliest English Kings (London: Unwin Hyman, 1991), pp. 37-42

Preceded by: Ethelbert

King of Kent 616-640

Succeeded by: Eorcenberht