Sigeberht the Good

Sigeberht II, nicknamed the Good (Bonus) or the Blessed (Sanctus), was King of the East Saxons (r. c. 653 to ? 660 x 661), in succession to his relative Sigeberht I the Little. Although a bishopric in Essex had been created under Mellitus, the kingdom had lapsed to paganism and it was in Sigeberht's reign that a systematic (re-)conversion of the East Anglians took root. Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica, Book III, chapter 22, is virtually the sole source for his career.

Apart from referring to the odd kinsman, Bede offers little that is of help in determining Sigeberht's family connections. Additional evidence is provided by genealogies for Offa, Swithred and Sigered in a 9th-century West-Saxon manuscript and in two post-Conquest sources, i.e. William of Malmesbury's Gesta regum and John of Worcester's Chronicon ex Chronicis, the latter including a memorandum (Chronicon A) and a genealogical list (Chronicon B). Unfortunately, their testimony is at times confused and contradictory. In a comparative analysis of the material, Barbara Yorke suggests that Sigeberht may perhaps have been the son of Sæward and father of Sigehere.

Sigeberht found a powerful northern "friend" (amicus) and ally in King Oswiu of Bernicia (r. 642–670). Bede's statement that Sigeberht regularly visited the Bernician court and the general nature of Oswiu's influence on the course of Sigeberht's career suggest that the balance of power was in Oswiu's favour. Oswiu may have intended the alliance to help him offer effective resistance against King Penda of Mercia, as is also suggested by his alliance with Penda's son Peada, king of the Middle Angles.

Bede's portrayal of the king owes much to his interest in the conversion of the East Anglians. A pagan on his accession, Sigeberht was urged by Oswiu to renounce his beliefs and accept Christianity. Like Peada, he and his followers were baptised by Bishop Finan at one of Oswiu's estates called Ad Murum (presumably in the region of Hadrian's Wall, possibly Walbottle), 12 miles from the east coast. The ceremony may have taken place in 653 or 654, before Penda's attack.

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