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'Æthelwealh' (''fl.'' c. 660-685) (also written 'Aedilualch', 'Aethelwalch', 'Aþelwold', 'Æðelwold', 'Æþelwald', or 'Ethelwalch') was the first historical king of Sussex. All known information about him comes from brief mentions in Eddius's The Life of Bishop Wilfrid, Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England, and The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
Æthelwalh became a Christian while in Mercia where King Wulfhere sponsored his baptism. At this time the people of Sussex were pagans.
In 661, Wulfhere gave Æthelwealh the territories of Meonwara and the Isle of Wight.
Æthelwealh's queen was 'Eafe' (also written Eabae or Ebba), the daughter of 'Eanfrith' (Eanfrid or Eanfridi), a ruler of the Christian Hwicce people.
Wilfrid, the exiled bishop of York, came to Sussex in 681 and converted the people to Christianity with King Æthelwealh's approval. Æthelwealh gave Wilfrid land in Selsey where he founded Selsey Abbey.
In 685, Cædwalla, a West Saxon prince, invaded Sussex and killed Æthelwealh.

Contents

References

External links

References

★ Æthelwalh 1

★ Book 4

★ Eafe 1

★ Eanfrith 3

★ The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

External links

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