EGBERT, the most celebrated of the Anglo-Saxon kings before Alfred, was the son of Alckmund, who is said to have reigned in Kent, and was a descendant of the house of Cerdic. In 787, on the death of Cynewulf, king of Wessex, E. laid claim to the throne, but had to give way to another claimant, Brihtric, who was the more powerful of the two. E. was compelled to flee, and took refuge at the court of Charlemagne. Here he remained for 13 years, until, in 800, on the death of Brihtric, he was summoned to Eng land to fill the throne of Wessex. England was at this time divided into three great sovereignties: Northumbria, extending over what were occasionally the separate king doms of Deira and Bernicia; Mercia, which had now subjugated the petty powers of Kent, Essex, and East Anglia; and Wessex, which had absorbed Sussex. For the first nine years of his reign, E. drew no sword. His mild government completed the attach. ment of his subjects, and the peace which he maintained fostered his strength. In 809, however, he marched against the Britons of the west,and after fighting five years in Corn wall and Devon, he succeeded in subduing the wild tribes to at least a temporary sub jection. In 823,.the most important event in his career took place. At that time a dis pute bad arisen between the East Angles and their Mercian conquerors, and the former sent ambassadors to E. imploring aid and protection. E. joined the East Angles with an army which, according to the old chroniclers, had a peculiarly fighting appearance, being " lean, meager, pale, and long-breathed." The encounter between the Mercians and the East Angles with their ally took place at EllandOn (the modern Wilton, accord ing to some), where a furious battle was fought, in which the Mereians were defeated with great slaughter. By this battle the power of Mercia was broken, and Essex and
Kent, formerly Mercian provinces, became incorporated with Wessex. For four years after the great battle of Ella/Ian, Mercia remained the seat of discontent and strife, and E., in 827, taking advantage of his opportunity, led thither an invading force, and reduced the country to a state of vassalage. Turning next his arms against Northum bria, he compelled that sovereignty also to acknowledge his supremacy (827-828). He afterwards penetrated into Wales, where, in like manner, success attended his arms.
E., now virtually king of England, though both he and his successors until the time of Alfred were in the habit of designating themselves only kings of Wessex, found it necessary, after a few years' comparatively peaceful rule, to direct his attention to a new and foreign enemy. The Danes, who had been making frequent descents upon the island since 832, and who in that year had defeated the forces of E., reappeared in 835 on be coast of Cornwall, where they were joined by numbers of the Cornish Britons. E., however, at the head of his West Saxons, met them at Hengestes-dOn (Hengstone), and in a great battle completely overthrew them. In the following year, he died, after a reign of 37 years.—In E., ambition and prudence, bravery, talent, and courtesy were blended in such a manner as to form a monarch not unworthy to be the first king of England.