Eni of East Anglia facts for kids
.png)
Eni (also known as Ennius) was an important person in the early history of the kingdom of East Anglia. He belonged to the Wuffing family, which was the royal family that ruled East Anglia. Eni was the son of Tyttla, who was a king from a long time ago, and the brother of Rædwald. Both Tyttla and Rædwald were kings of East Anglia.
Who Was Eni?
We don't have clear proof that Eni himself was ever a king of East Anglia. Most of what we know about him comes from two old writings. One is called Ecclesiastical History of the English People, written around 731 by a monk named Bede. The other is a family record of the East Anglian kings, found in a collection called the Anglian collection. This record isn't a list of kings in order, but more like a family tree showing who was related to whom. That's why it doesn't mention Rædwald, because he wasn't a direct ancestor in Eni's specific family line.
Some people think that Rædwald might have let Eni share some power, perhaps as a helper king or a leader in a part of East Anglia, while Rædwald was very powerful (from about 616 to 624). However, the old writings don't actually say this. After Rædwald, his son Eorpwald became king.
Eni's Royal Children
Eni is known as the father of three kings of East Anglia. These kings were:
- Anna (who ruled from about 636 to 654)
- Aethelhere (who ruled in 654)
- Aethelwold (who ruled from 654 to 664)
The family record also says that Eni was the grandfather of King Ealdwulf (who ruled from 664 to 713). Ealdwulf's father was named Æthelric. Since royal power went back to Ealdwulf after his uncles (Anna, Aethelhere, and Aethelwold) ruled, many historians believe that Æthelric was actually the older brother of Anna, Aethelhere, and Aethelwold. Some even think Æthelric might be the same person as Egric of East Anglia, who ruled alongside Sigeberht (from about 629 to 634) and died with him in 636. Ealdwulf's mother, Hereswitha, had already moved to a monastery in Gaul by 647, which suggests that Æthelric was likely no longer alive by then.
Eni and Christianity
Many of Eni's family members who came after him were strong Christians. Since Eni was part of King Rædwald's close family, he would have known about Rædwald becoming a Christian. Rædwald was baptized in Kent before 616, with help from King Æthelberht and a group of missionaries sent by Pope Gregory I.
Eni's son Anna probably lived in a place called Exning in 631, because Anna's daughter Æthelthryth (who later became a saint, Saint Audrey) was born there. Exning is near the Isle of Ely. At a place called Cratendune on the Isle of Ely, it's said that Saint Augustine of Canterbury (who died around 604) set up a church. This means that the Christian faith of Eni's family might have started from Saint Augustine's own work in East Anglia.
See also
