Jænberht facts for kids

Jænberht (died August 12, 792) was an important church leader in medieval England. He was a monk and later the abbot of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. In 765, he became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

As archbishop, he often had problems with King Offa of Mercia. King Offa even took away some church lands. Around 787, some church areas that Jænberht oversaw were moved to a new archbishopric in Lichfield. It is not clear if Jænberht ever agreed with this change. Jænberht also led important church meetings in England. He died in 792 and was later seen as a saint.

Early Life of Jænberht

Jænberht started as a monk at St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. Later, he was chosen to be the abbot, which is the head of a monastery.

He came from a well-known family in the kingdom of Kent. One of his relatives, Eadhun, was a royal official called a reeve for King Egbert II of Kent. Jænberht himself had a good relationship with King Egbert.

Becoming Archbishop of Canterbury

Jænberht became Archbishop of Canterbury on February 2, 765. This happened at the court of King Offa of Mercia. Being chosen there showed that King Offa approved of him.

In 766, Jænberht received a pallium. This was a special cloth given by the Pope. It showed that he had the Pope's authority as an archbishop.

At this time, King Offa had taken control of Kent. In 776, Kent rebelled and became free again. Jænberht might have encouraged this rebellion.

In 780 and 781, Jænberht went to church meetings in Brentford. King Offa led these meetings. Even though Jænberht and Offa were friendly at first, Jænberht was also close to King Egbert. After a battle called the Battle of Otford, King Egbert gave some lands to Christ Church. When Offa took control of Kent again, by 785, he took these lands back. He then gave them to his own loyal followers.

The Rise of Lichfield

During Jænberht's time as archbishop, a big disagreement happened. It was between the Canterbury church and King Offa. This disagreement led to the creation of a new archbishopric in Lichfield in 787. Hygberht became the new Archbishop of Lichfield.

King Offa first tried to move the southern archbishopric from Canterbury to London. But the Pope said no. So, Offa managed to create a third archbishopric in Britain. Lichfield was the main church area in Mercia. This meant the new archbishopric was under King Offa's control.

There were several reasons why Jænberht and Offa argued. Jænberht did not like that Offa removed the royal family of Kent from power. They also argued over land that both claimed as their own. Jænberht also refused to crown Offa's son, Ecgfrith, as king.

Problems also arose because the archbishop was making his own coins in Canterbury. A writer named Matthew Paris, who lived much later, said that Jænberht secretly planned to let Charlemagne into Canterbury if he invaded Britain. This story might be true, or it might have been made up later. There was also a rumor during Jænberht's time that King Offa was planning with Charlemagne to remove Pope Hadrian I. Some historians think Jænberht might have started this rumor. Offa's later successor admitted to the Pope that Offa's actions were because he disliked Jænberht and the people of Kent.

In 787, Pope Hadrian sent a pallium to Hygberht of Lichfield. This made Lichfield an archbishopric. Ecgfrith was then crowned king. However, there is no clear proof that Jænberht ever accepted Hygberht as an archbishop. Canterbury kept control over the bishops of Winchester, Sherborne, Selsey, Rochester, and London. The church areas of Worcester, Hereford, Leicester, Lindsey, Dommoc, and Elmham were moved to Lichfield.

Later Life and Legacy

Jænberht led a church council in London sometime after Lichfield became an archbishopric. Most of the bishops from southern Britain attended this meeting.

He died on August 12, 792. He was buried in the abbey church of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. Since his death, he has been honored as a saint. His feast day is celebrated on August 12.