Æthelred and Æthelberht facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saints Aethelred and Aethelberht of Kent (of Eastry) |
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|---|---|
| Born | seventh century |
| Died | c. 669 |
| Venerated in | Anglo-Saxon Christianity |
| Major shrine | Ramsey Abbey in Huntingdonshire; Canterbury |
| Feast | 17 October (translation of relics) |
| Attributes | with Aethelberht, as royal brothers, sometimes with swords |
Saints Æthelred and Æthelberht were two young princes from the ancient Kingdom of Kent in England. They lived a long, long time ago, around the year 669 AD. Sadly, they were murdered, but later, people remembered them as saints and martyrs. Their story is a big part of the legend of Saint Mildrith. It's said that a special monastery, called Minster, was built to make up for the terrible crime committed against them.
Contents
The Kentish Royal Family
The story of Æthelred and Æthelberht is part of a bigger tale about the royal family of Kent.
King Eorcenberht's Rule
King Eorcenberht of Kent became ruler of Kent in 640 AD. He was the son of King Eadbald. Eorcenberht was a Christian king. He was the first ruler to order that all old idols be destroyed. He also made sure everyone observed the 40-day fast of Lent.
The Princes' Family
Eorcenberht had an older brother named Eormenred. The legend says that Eormenred and his wife, Oslafa, had several children. Two of their sons were Æthelred and Æthelberht. They also had a daughter named Eormenbeorg, also known as Domne Eafe. Eafe later married Merewalh, a ruler in the Shropshire area.
King Eorcenberht married Seaxburh. They had two sons, Ecgberht and Hlothhere. They also had two daughters. When King Eorcenberht died in 664 AD, his son Ecgberht became the new King of Kent.
The Legend of the Princes
This is the famous story of what happened to the young princes.
Life at Eastry
The legend says that princes Æthelred and Æthelberht were very religious. They lived at a royal home in Eastry, Kent. This home belonged to their cousin, King Ecgberht. Eastry was likely an important place for the royal family.
A Terrible Crime
A man named Thunor worked for King Ecgberht. Thunor wanted to make sure Ecgberht's sons would become king next. He worried that the princes Æthelred and Æthelberht might try to claim the throne. So, Thunor secretly murdered the two princes. He then hid their bodies under the royal seat in the Hall at Eastry.
The Truth Comes Out
When the princes went missing, everyone looked for them. But they couldn't be found anywhere. Then, a bright column of light appeared. It shone right above the spot where the bodies were hidden. This light showed everyone the terrible crime.
King Ecgberht's Sorrow
King Ecgberht was very sad and upset when he learned what Thunor had done. He felt terrible that this happened in his kingdom. He wanted to bury the princes' bodies in Canterbury. But the people trying to move the bodies found it impossible.
A New Resting Place
The king asked his religious advisors for help. They suggested taking the bodies to Wakering in the Kingdom of Essex for burial. There was already a monastery there. With this new plan, the bodies could finally be moved. They were buried there and honored as royal Christian martyrs.
Monasteries of Atonement
Around this time, King Ecgberht's mother, Queen Seaxburh, started a monastery at Minster in Sheppey.
King Ecgberht then founded another monastery at Minster in Thanet. This monastery was to be led by the sister of the murdered princes, Domne Eafe. Domne Eafe was the mother of Saint Mildrith. Mildrith later became the abbess (leader) of the monastery after her mother. Some stories also say that another monastery was built at Eastry for the same reason.
See Also
