Eadbald

Also known as: King Eadbald · Family: Kent · Role: king · First appears: Book II · Chap. V

In 616, after the death of his father Ethelbert, Eadbald succeeded him as king of Kent, but his accession “proved very harmful to the still tender growth of the new Church.” He rejected Christianity and entered an unlawful marriage with his father’s wife. His sister was Ethelberg, whose marriage was later sought by Edwin through ambassadors sent to Eadbald.

Around 616, Laurentius confronted him with the scars of the stripes he had received, and Eadbald renounced idols and his unlawful marriage, received the Christian faith, and was baptized. He then supported the Church, recalled Mellitus and Justus from Gaul, and restored their freedom to govern their churches, though the people of London refused to receive Mellitus, and Eadbald lacked the authority to restore him. He also built a church dedicated to the holy Mother of God.

In 633, Eadbald honourably received Paulinus and Ethelberg in Kent with Archbishop Honorius, and, at the request of Honorius, had Paulinus take charge of the church at Rochester. In 640, Eadbald died and left the kingdom of Kent to his son Earconbert.