148
THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.
[book i.
We are tolerably familiar with the fact that at
least eight kingdoms existed at once in Saxon Eng-
land ; but many readers of English history have
yet to learn that royalty was much more widely
spread, even at the time when we hear but of
eight, seven or six predominant kings: as this is
a point of some interest, a few examples may not
be amiss.
It is probable that from the very -earliest times
Kent had at least two kings, whose capitals were
respectively Canterbury and Rochester, the seat of
two bishoprics ɪ. The distinction of East and West
Kentings is preserved till the very downfall of the
Saxon monarchy : not only do we know that Eadr
ric and H168here reigned together ; but also that
Wihtred and his son ÆiSelberht the Second did
so2. 0'swine is mentioned as a king of Kent du-
ring the period when our general authorities tell
us of Ecgberht alone 3 ; contemporary with him we
have Swsebheard, another king4, and all these ex-
tend into the period usually given to Eadric and
Hlo¾here. The later years of ÆSelberht the
Second must have seen his power shared with Ead-
barbares. Ennodius, évêque de Paris, dit d’une armée du grand Thé-
odoric : ‘ Il y avait tant de rois dans cette armée, que leur nombre était
au moins égal à celui des soldats qu’on pouvait nourrir a\ec les sub-
sistances exigées des habitans du district où elle campait.’ ” Michelet,
Hist. France, i. 198, note.
l At a later period we find a duchy of the Merscware, or inhabit-
ants of Romney marsh, and this is certainly in favour of a third
Kentish kingdom. William OfMalmesbury speaks of the reguli whom
Æ’Kelberht had subdued, and it is probable that these were petty princes
of Kent. Gest. Reg. lib. 1. § 10.
2 Cod. Dipl. Nos. 72, 77, 86, 108. 3 Ibid. Nos. 8,10, 30.
‘ Ibid. Nos. 14, 15. Beda, Hist. Eccl. v. 8.
сн. Vi.]
THE KING.
149
berht1, Eardwulf25 Sigirted3 and Ecgberht45 and Si-
giræd deliberately calls himself king of half Kent.
A very remarkable document of Eadbehrt is pre-
served in the Textus Roffensis5; after the king’s own
signature, in which he calls himself Rex Cantua-
riorum5 his nobles place their names, thus, “Ego
Wilbaldus comités meos Confirmare et subscribere
feci and in the same words Dimheahac5 Hosberht5
Nothbalth5 Banta, Ruta and Tidbalth sign. Now
the fact of these persons having comités at all is
only conceivable on the supposition that they were
all royal, kings or sub-kings. That they were sub-
ordinate appears from the necessity of the grant
being confirmed by √E⅞>elberht, which took place
in presence of the grantor and grantee, and the
Archbishop5 at Canterbury. Among the kings of
this small province are also named ÆSelric, Heard-
berht, Eadberht Pren6 and Ealhmund75 the last
prince, father of the celebrated Ecgberht of Wes-
sex.
Among the territories which at one time or other
were incorporated with the kingdom of Mercia, one
is celebrated under the name of Hwiccas : it com-
prised the then diocese of Worcester. This small
province not only retained its king till a late period8,
but had frequently several kings at once; thus
1 Cod. Dipl. Nos. 85, 108, 107. 2 Ibid. No. 96.
3 Ibid. Nos. HO, 114. 1 Ibid. Nos. 113, 132, 135,160.
5 Ibid. No. 85. ° Flor. Wig. an. 794.
7 Flor. Wig. App. Wessex.
3 We lose sight of the Hwiccian kings about the time of Offa’s
death, or an. 796. In 802 we hear indeed of an ealdoπnan of the
Hwiccas, but the Latin authorities translate this by dux.