St. Aethelbert I King Of KENT

550 - 616  (66 years)

• Name	Aethelbert I King Of KENT  [1, 2]
  	Although Aethelbert was a pagan, he agreed to let his new wife continue to practice her Christian faith. Her sincerity and her other good qualities slowly began to make an impression on him. When Pope Gregory I ent Augustine on a mission to convert the Saxons in 597, Aethelbert allowed Augustine to build a church in Canterbury, to preach freely throughout Kent, and to convert whomever he could. Around 601, Aethelbert himself was baptized and became the first Saxon king to convert to Christianity. None of his subjects were forced to join the new faith. Aethelbert's belief that conversion should be voluntary and his other enlightened attitudes helped to convert King Saebert of the East Saxons and King Redwald of the East Angles. Aethelbert also created a code of laws in Kent that was the basis of the later laws of Offa and Alfred. Under him, Kent became the wealthiest and most secure kingdom in Saxon England. Aethelbert died on 24 February 616 after a reign of more than fifty years. he was the first Saxon king to be venerated as a saint. His daughter Ethelburga also became a saint. [1]
  Title	St.
  Birth	abt. 550  [1]
  Gender	Male
  Fact	Between 560 and 616	King of Kent   [2]
  Death	24 Feb 616  [1]
  Person ID	I33010	Main Tree
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2013

  
  

  Father	Ermenric King Of KENT   d. 560
  Family ID	F01105	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	St. Bertha,   b. abt. 560   d. abt. 602 (Age 42 years)
  Children	1. Eadbald King Of KENT   d. 664  [Birth]
  Family ID	F14900	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Fact - Between 560 and 616 - King of Kent  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S5452] Alan J. Koman, A Who's Who of Your Ancestral Saints, (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. - Baltimore). [S03311] Roderick W. Stuart, Royalty For Commoners - Fourth Edition, (Name: Name: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc;;).