- Christian influence: The missionaries from Rome were used to written laws. Codifying law aligned with their view of a Christian ruler as a lawgiver.
- Royal authority: By setting himself as the source of law, Æthelberht reinforced his power over his nobles and subjects. Written laws came from the king’s mouth and were harder to dispute.
- Trade and clarity: Kent was wealthy and traded extensively with the Frankish kingdoms. Written laws provided clarity for disputes involving foreigners or between different communities.
Thus, Æthelberht’s code represents both a consolidation of tribal custom and a step toward state governance under a Christian monarch.
Other early Anglo-Saxon law codes
Æthelberht’s was just the beginning. Other Anglo-Saxon kings soon issued their own laws, each expanding and adapting the legal landscape:
- King Hlothhere and King Eadric of Kent (c. 673–685) issued further Kentish laws dealing with theft, oath-taking, and compensation.
- King Ine of Wessex (reigned 688–726) produced a more extensive code that included not only wergild schedules but also regulations on trade, farming obligations, and penalties for fighting in the king’s hall.
- King Alfred the Great of Wessex (reigned 871–899) famously issued a law code blending older West Saxon rules with biblical principles and even a prologue citing the Ten Commandments.
Through these laws, we see the gradual development of a shared legal culture across England, even before the kingdoms were unified under one crown. shutdown123