Ecgberht, or Egbert (d. July 4, 673) was a King of Kent who ruled from 664 to 673, succeeding his father Eorcenberht.
He may have still been a child when he became king following his father's death on July 14, 664, because his mother Seaxburh was recorded as having been regent.
Ecgberht's court seems to have had many diplomatic and ecclesiastic contacts. He hosted Wilfrid and Benedict Biscop, and provided escorts to Theodore and Hadrian for their travels in Gaul.
The Mildrith legend reports that he had his cousins Aethelred and Aethelberht (sons of his uncle Eormenred) killed; this may reflect a dynastic struggle that ended in the success of Eorcenberht's line.
A charter records his patronage of the monastery at Chertsey.
Ecgberht was succeeded by his brother Hlothhere, who was in turn succeeded by Ecgberht's son Eadric and still later by his other son Wihtred.
Reference
- Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People
- D. P. Kirby , The Earliest English Kings (London: Unwin Hyman , 1991), pp. 43-44
