Egbert
- Favourite Briton.

Hampshire
Born in 775
Died in 839

Egbert was born in 775 into the Anglo Saxon Kingdom of Wessex, his father was Ealhmund, Egbert was forced out of Wessex by the west Saxon king Beorhtric and the Mercian King Offa, Egbert retreated into exile to the royal court of Emperor Charlemagne. He was eventually invited back to England to rule, he returned and when King Beorhtric died Egbert ascended to the throne and ruled over Wessex in 802. In 825 a bloody battled ensued against King Beornwulf of Mercia at the Battle of Ellendun in Wiltshire, which weakened the Mercian stronghold over the southern part of England, however, it took a few further years before Egbert managed to conquer Mercia, after which he reigned as king.

Egbert then decided to send his eldest son Ethelwulf into Kent to do battle, King Baldred had no other option than to retreat north, this resulted in Sussex, Surrey, Essex, Kent and East Anglia in seeking protection from Egbert.

Egbert had met his future wife Redburga whilst he was in exile, he then married Redburga and she produced three children, the eldest son Ethelwulf, a daughter, Editha, and the youngest son Athelstan. Egbert's battles continued and in 835 he fought the Danes and the Welsh at Hingston Down, in Cornwall. King Egbert died in 839, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Ethelwulf who was destined to rule the kingdom of Wessex, and his youngest son Athelstan ruled as Sub King over Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. King Egbert was buried at Winchester Cathedral, having been declared the first ever king to rule over All England.

More famous Britons here

Contributors: Do you have a site related to Egbert?
Supply some content for this page and we will gladly add a link to your site. Email here.

6845 views since 25th November 2008

Brit Quote:
Life contains but two tragedies. One is not to get your heart's desire; the other is to get it. - George Bernard Shaw
More Quotes

On this day:
Benjamin Franklin Arrives in London - 1724, First Bomb Dropped on English Soil - 1914
More dates from British history

click here to view all the British counties

County Pages