# Death of Æthelberht of Kent (616)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/616-death-of-aethelberht-of-kent
Categories: ruler-change

Æthelberht, one of the earliest Christian Anglo-Saxon kings, died after a long reign. Within the broader Post-Roman Britain period, Roman institutions gave way to competing Brittonic and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms while Christianity was rebuilt through continental and Irish missions. This event is placed at AD 616 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. His death tested the durability of the new Christian institutions in southern England.

## Why it matters
His death tested the durability of the new Christian institutions in southern England.

Ruler at the time: [Post-Roman and Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms](https://english-history.com/rulers/post-roman-and-anglo-saxon-kingdoms)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Death of Æthelberht of Kent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Death+of+%C3%86thelberht+of+Kent&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Death of Æthelberht of Kent](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Death+of+%C3%86thelberht+of+Kent)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%28before_1000%29)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Anglo-Saxon England topic search](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Anglo-Saxon%20England)