Ethelberg

Also known as: King Edwin’s consort / Queen Ethelberg / Tata / your Christian Highness · Family: Kent · Role: queen · First appears: Book II · Chap. IX

In c. 624, Ethelberg, also called Tata, daughter of Ethelbert and sister of Eadbald, became the wife of Edwin, linking the Northumbrian and Kentish royal houses. She had embraced Christianity while Edwin still served idols; Boniface sent her a silver looking-glass and a gilded ivory comb, and urged her to soften Edwin’s heart by teaching him the Divine precepts. Paulinus accompanied her and strengthened her and her company through exhortations and the heavenly Mysteries. That same Easter night she gave birth to Eanfled, and her other children by Edwin—Ethelhun, Ethelthryth, and Wuscfrea—were later baptized.

In 633, after the disaster, Ethelberg returned to Kent by sea with Paulinus and was honourably received by Archbishop Honorius and Eadbald. Fearing Eadbald and Oswald, she sent Wuscfrea and Yffi to Gaul to be raised by King Dagobert, her friend, but both died in infancy.

Relationship record

Life events

• c. 624 · Edwin took Ethelberg as his wife, linking the Northumbrian and Kentish royal houses.(Book II · Chap. IX)
  • With: Edwin
  • “for he had taken to wife Ethelberg, otherwise called Tata, daughter to King Ethelbert.”
• c. 624 · Boniface learned that Edwin remained an idolater while Ethelberg had embraced Christianity.(Book II · Chap. XI)
  • With: Edwin
  • “your illustrious consort, we were given to understand, that he still served abominable idols”
• c. 624 · Boniface sent Ethelberg a silver looking-glass and a gilded ivory comb.(Book II · Chap. XI)
  • With: Boniface
  • “We have, moreover, sent you the blessing of your protector, the blessed Peter, the chief of the Apostles, to wit, a silver looking-glass, and a gilded ivory comb”
• 633 · Paulinus returned to Kent with Ethelberg and was honourably received.(Book II · Chap. XX · 📍 Kent)
  • With: Paulinus Archbishop Honorius Eadbald
  • “Paulinus, taking with him Queen Ethelberg, whom he had before brought thither, returned into Kent by sea, and was very honourably received by the Archbishop Honorius and King Eadbald.”
• 633 · Ethelberg sent Wuscfrea and Yffi to Gaul, where both died in infancy.(Book II · Chap. XX · 📍 Gaul)
  • With: Wuscfrea Yffi King Dagobert
  • “Afterwards Ethelberg, for fear of the kings Eadbald and Oswald, sent Wuscfrea and Yffi over into Gaul to be bred up by King Dagobert, who was her friend; and there they both died in infancy”