Sæbert or Sæberht[1] (d. c. 616) was a King of Essex (c. 604 – c. 616).
He was the son of Sledda. He was the nephew of King Æthelberht of Kent and was converted to Christianity in 604.[2] He was baptised by Saint Mellitus, Bishop of London but his sons remained pagan, and after his death they drove Mellitus from London.[3]
By tradition, he was buried in Westminster Abbey, which he supposedly founded; a tomb said to be his (also that of his consort Æthelgoda) is located in the South Quire. However, on the evidence of dating of the artefacts, the tomb found in Prittlewell in the autumn of 2003 may be the burial chamber of Sæbert. Several foil crosses, perhaps sewn into his shroud, correlate with the accepted history that Sæbert was a convert to Christianity. Other grave goods, such as glass and copper alloy bowls, may indicate a continuation of pagan beliefs.
References
- ^ His name is alternatively written as Saebert, Sabert or Sebert.
- ^ Hindley, Geoffrey A Brief History of the Anglo-Saxons: The beginnings of the English nation New York: Carrol & Graf Publishers 2006 ISBN 978-0-78671738-5 p. 33-36
- ^ Delaney, John J. Dictionary of Saints Second Edition Doubleday: New York 2003 ISBN 0-385-13594-7 p. 431
Further reading
- "Sæberht 1 (Male)." Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England.
- Hirst, S. and S. Lamb. The Prittlewell Prince: The Discovery of a Rich Anglo-Saxon Burial in Essex. London, 2004.
| Preceded by Sledda |
King of Essex c. 604 – c. 616 |
Succeeded by Sexred |
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