| Oswine | |
|---|---|
| King of Kent | |
| Reign | 688 – 690[1] |
Oswine was king ofKent, reigning jointly withSwæfberht andSwæfheard from 688 till 690.[1]
Oswine is known from charters: one of which, is dated 26 January 690, and was witnessed by Swæfheard, and implies Oswine's descent fromEormenred;[2] and a third, which is undated, but again witnessed by Swæfheard, expresses Oswine's gratitude for his restoration to the kingdom of his fathers (gratias refero miserenti Deo omnipotenti qui confirmauit me in regno patrum meorum et dedit mihi domum cognationis mee).[3]
After the death ofEadric of Kent, Kent was in turmoil.Cædwalla of Wessex invaded in 686 and installed his brotherMul of Kent as king. Mul was killed in an uprising a year later. Cædwalla returned and laid waste to Kent leaving it in a state of chaos. He may have ruled Kent directly after this second invasion. However, he abdicated in 688 and went on a pilgrimage to Rome, possibly because he was dying of wounds suffered while fighting on the Isle of Wight.[4]
Oswine was of the royal house of Kent.[5] Gordon Ward, writing inArchaeologia Cantiana suggests that Oswine was a grandson ofEormenred of Kent, possibly the son ofÆthelred of East Kent.[6] A charter of January 690 granting land inSturry toÆbba, abbess ofMinster-in-Thanet states that they were closely related ("carnali propinquitate proxime"). It also indicates that Oswine had the support ofÆthelred of Mercia.[7]
Oswine appears to have ruled jointly withSwæfheard, son ofSæbbi of Essex,[8] Oswine ruling the eastern half of Kent.[5]
In a charter of July 689, Oswine, king of Kent, granted toSt Peter's Minster andAbbot Hadrian 1 sulung (aratrum) of iron-bearing land, formerly belonging to the royal vill atLyminge, Kent.[9]