Egbert
HampshireBorn 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.
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