Sæbbi of Essex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sæbbi of Essex |
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Sebba's name listed among the early graves lost noted on the memorial in St Paul's Cathedral
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| King of Essex until 683 with Sighere |
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| Reign | 664–694 |
| Predecessor | Swithelm |
| Successor | Sigeheard and Swæfred |
| Born | before c. 626 Kingdom of Essex |
| Died | 695 Kingdom of Essex |
| Burial | Old St Paul's Cathedral, City of London (Tomb destroyed in the Great Fire of London) |
| Spouse | Name unknown |
| Issue | Swæfheard of Kent Sigeheard of Essex Swæfred of Essex |
| Father | Sexred |
| Religion | Christianity, prev. Anglo-Saxon paganism |
Sæbbi (also known as Saint Sebbi or Sebba) was a king of the Kingdom of Essex in ancient England. He was born before 626 and died in 695. Sæbbi was the son of Sexred. He ruled Essex first with his cousin, Sighere, and then by himself.
Contents
King Sæbbi's Rule
Sæbbi became king of Essex in 664, sharing power with his cousin Sighere. They were both cousins of the previous king, Swithelm.
Early Years and Challenges
In 665, Sighere decided to stop being a Christian and went back to following paganism. Sæbbi, however, remained a strong Christian. This caused a big disagreement between the two kings.
Sighere found support from the kingdom of Wessex. Sæbbi, on the other hand, got help from the kingdom of Mercia. Because of their disagreement, King Wulfhere of Mercia became the "overlord" of Essex in 665. This meant he was the most powerful ruler in the area. King Wulfhere sent a bishop named Jaruman to help the people of Essex become Christian again.
Becoming Sole King
Around 683, Sighere died, and Sæbbi became the only ruler of Essex. He ruled alone until 694.
In 686, Cædwalla, a powerful leader from Wessex, also became an overlord of Essex. He and Sæbbi worked together. They invaded the kingdom of Kent and removed its king, Eadric. After this, Sæbbi ruled over West Kent for a time. It is thought that Sæbbi might have started the first abbey at Westminster around this time.
Later Life and Legacy
In 694, Sæbbi decided to give up his throne to become a monk. He wanted to live a quiet, religious life. His sons, Sigeheard and Swaefred, then ruled Essex together. Another one of his sons, Swæfheard, became king of Kent.
Sæbbi died in 695. He was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral in London. People thought of him as a very holy person and he was honored as a saint.
Sæbbi's Burial Story
A famous writer named Bede wrote about Sæbbi's life and death. Bede said that Sæbbi was a very religious man who loved helping others and praying. He wanted to become a monk for a long time, but his wife didn't want to separate from him. After being king for 30 years, Sæbbi became very sick. He convinced his wife that they should both serve God.
Sæbbi went to the bishop of London and became a monk, giving away all his money to the poor. As he was dying, he worried about how he would act in pain. He asked the bishop and two helpers to be the only ones with him. Bede wrote that Sæbbi had a comforting dream. In the dream, three men in bright clothes told him he would die peacefully in three days. This is exactly what happened.
When they tried to bury Sæbbi, his body was too long for the stone coffin. They tried to make the coffin longer, but it still didn't fit. Then, something amazing happened: the coffin suddenly became the perfect size for his body! Sæbbi was buried in the church of St. Paul.
Sæbbi's tomb survived a fire at St Paul's in 1087. His remains were later moved to a new stone coffin. Sadly, his tomb was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Today, there is a special plaque in the new St Paul's Cathedral to remember King Sæbbi.
