Sæbbi of Essex

Who was Sæbbi of Essex?

Sebbi was the joint King of Essex from 664 to 683 along with his brother, Sighere. After Sighere died, Sebbi became sole ruler of Essex until 694.

Sighere and Sebbi were cousins of their predecessor, Swithelm. In 665 Sighere apostatized and fell back into paganism, while Sebbi remained a faithful Christian. They soon developed a rivalry. Sighere found an ally in Wessex, and Sebbi in Mercia. As a result of their rivalry, King Wulfhere of Mercia established himself as overlord of Essex in 665. He despatched Jaruman, the Bishop of Mercia, who was assigned to reconvert the people of Essex to Christianity.

In 686, Cædwalla, a Wessex sub-king, established himself as overlord of Essex. He and Sebbi invaded Kent, expelling King Eadric, and Sebbi ruled over West Kent. It was presumably at the time that Sebbi founded the original abbey at Westminster.

Sebbi is believed to have abdicated in 694 in order to enter a monastery, and was succeeded by his sons, Sigeheard and Swaefred, who ruled jointly over Essex. Sebbi died in 695 and was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London where he was revered as a saint. Bede recounts the burial thus:

Sebbi's tomb survived the 1087 fire at St Paul's and his remains were transferred to a black marble sarcophagus in the mid 12th century. This sarcophagus was recorded in a series of drawings by Wenceslaus Hollar, published in Dugdale's History of St Paul's. The tomb was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. A plaque to Sebbi was erected in the Wren cathedral.