Ealdwulf of East Anglia

Monastic patronage and division of the diocese

The Anglo-Saxon dioceses before 925

In 672, Etheldreda took religious vows with the help of Bishop Wilfrid, to whom she gave the estate at Hexham, and after a year escaped to her East Anglian estate of Ely, where she founded a double monastery, the origin of the great mediaeval abbey. Meanwhile, in Kent, her nephew Ecgberht established the monastery of Minster-in-Thanet, ruled by his cousin Eormenburga, Merewalh's queen. In 673, Ecgbert was succeeded by his brother Hlothhere and their mother Seaxburga, Etheldreda's sister, became established in her double monastery at Minster-in-Sheppey in the Isle of Sheppey.

The governance of Ely and Sheppey under two queens of East Anglian birth created an enduring axis of patronage and influence. Theodore notified Ecgfrith that he could not remarry within the Church while Etheldreda was living, denying him a legitimate heir. Soon afterwards, with Bishop Bisi in declining health, he divided the bishopric of Dommoc, creating a second East Anglian seat in Norfolk at North Elmham, or at South Elmham, in Suffolk). Bishop Æcci was appointed to Dommoc and Baduwine to Helmham. Abbot Botolph died in 674 at Iken and was succeeded by Æthelheah, who later exchanged land-rights with the monastery of Much Wenlock in Shropshire. These entails had perhaps been bestowed by Anna at the foundation of Iken, through his daughter Seaxburga's kinship to the family of Merewalh and Eormenburga.

It is suggested, but unproved, that the revenue of the East Anglian royal estates centred upon Rendlesham (the 'Five-and-a-half Hundreds', or Wicklaw) were bestowed upon Ely at its foundation, since they formed the largest share of Bishop Æthelwold of Winchester's re-endowment of Ely in around 970, which later became known as the 'Liberty of St Etheldreda'. Similar doubt surrounds the Papal Privileges later claimed to have been obtained at Rome by Wilfrid in around 680 for Ely and Peterborough. If either or both were authentic, they would show a decisive policy of Ealdwulf to reinforce dynastic authority through ecclesiastical structures. Wilfrid retained close contacts with Ely and Peterborough from his monastery at Oundle. Etheldreda and Hild both died in around 680: Seaxburga transferred to Ely, leaving Sheppey to Eormenhilda.

Influence in Lindsey

A map of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms

The name and dynastic house of Ealdwulf's queen is unknown. They had at least two children, his heir Ælfwald and Ecgburga, who later became an abbess. The marriage probably coloured East Anglia's dealings with Mercia and Northumbria, which were approaching new confrontations. When Wulfhere of Mercia died in around 675, his widow Eormenhilda joined her mother at Minster-in-Sheppey and his brother Aethelred, whose wife Osthryth was daughter of Oswald of Northumbria, succeeded to the throne. Since Raedwald's time the rule of the Kingdom of Lindsey had been disputed between Mercia and Northumbria, but after a battle in 679 it fell finally to Mercia. East Anglia increasingly acknowledged the superior influence of Mercia.

Coinage and commerce

The issue and use of English coins during Ealdwulf's reign followed its development in Kent, at first with gold shillings or thrymsas during the 660s to the 670s, and thereafter, by a debasement linked to the diminishing gold quality of Frankish coin, with silver sceattas or pennies of various types. The distribution of findspots reveals foci of their use and possibly their issue at East Anglian centres of importance, especially in the north-west around Hunstanton, Bawsey in the Thetford area, the Fen edge around Isleworth and Exning, in the east around Burgh Castle, and in the area around Rendlesham, Ipswich and in the River Gipping valley.

The status of coinage was not yet as a true currency, nor overtly regnal. The pieces attributed to East Anglian production are found alongside others mainly of Kentish, East Saxon, and Frisian or Netherlandish types, reflecting external communications with those centres. In the same period Gipeswic witnessed the full development of its first major expansion from the quayside north to the Cattlemarket area, with established production of Frisian-inspired Ipswich Ware pottery to the north-east of this area. Its continental trade partners may have been Domburg in Walcheren and Dorestad, the large emporium on the Rhine south of Utrecht. This route gained importance as the Christian mission to Frisia developed from the 680s.^[8]

Conflict with Wessex

In 685 two events strengthened Mercia's power: Kent was plunged into a civil war in which Hlothhere perished, and Ecgfrith of Northumbria was killed in an expedition against the Picts. Ealdwulf is one of three Anglian kings, along with Æthelred of Mercia and Aldfrith, who were addressed by Pope Sergius in a letter of 692 urging their acceptance of Berhtwald of Reculver as the successor to Theodore at Canterbury. Soon afterwards, Kent was twice invaded by Caedwalla of Wessex: during the first invasion, his brother Mul was captured and burnt to death along with his bodyguard. Caedwalla abdicated to lead the life of a monk. While Ecgbert's son Wihtred took possession of Kent, Ine began his reign in Wessex. It is possible that Ealdwulf assisted Kent against Wessex. In 693-694 Ine obliged Kent to pay recompense for Mul's death, but also, according to William of Malmesbury, banished the East Anglian nobility and then put them to flight in battle. This perhaps occurred in Kent, since Ealdwulf was not overthrown.

Relations with Mercia

East Anglian patrimony was restated at Ely in 696, when Seaxburga translated the uncorrupt remains of Etheldreda into the monastery church. Seaxburga died in 699 and was succeeded at Ely by Eormenhilda. Mercia's power in Lindsey was affirmed at the royal monastery of Bardney, beside Lincoln: Queen Osthryth had her father Oswald's relics enshrined there, but was slain by the Mercian people in 697. Æthelred abdicated and retired to Bardney in 704 and was succeeded by his nephew, Coenred, the son of Wulfhere and Eormenhilda. Their daughter Werburga united the Mercian lines by marrying Æthelred's son Ceolred. The subsidiarity of the East Saxons to Mercia is shown in charters of Coenred, and found an amicable settlement when Coenred and Offa of Essex abdicated together and went to Rome to lead religious lives in 709. Ealdwulf's position was protected by the complete investment of his kin in the surrounding dynasties and their patronage of leading religious houses.

The closing years of Ealdwulf's reign were coloured by the unsatisfactory rule of Ceolred, who depleted monastic assets to support his style of kingship. At this time the Mercian royal hermit Guthlac was living on the island of Crowland.^[9] His secluded fenland retreat became a place of refuge for a Mercian royal counter-claimant, Æthelbald, who appears to have received encouragement and protection there from the East Anglian nobility. However this development, extremely important in its outcome, had not fully unfolded when Ealdwulf died in 713, leaving his son Ælfwald to succeed to the East Anglian throne.