Eadberht of Selsey

{{short description|8th-century Bishop of Selsey}}

{{About|the 8th century Bishop of Selsey||Eadberht (disambiguation){{!}}Eadberht}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| name =Eadberht

| image =

| religion = Christian

| title = Bishop of Selsey

| appointed = between 709 and 716

| consecration = between 709 and 731

| term_end = between 716 and 731

| predecessor = new foundation

| successor =Eolla

| ordination =

| bishops =

| other_post =Abbot of Selsey

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =between 716 and 731

| death_place =

}}

Eadberht of Selsey (died circa 716) was an abbot of Selsey Abbey, later promoted to become the first Bishop of Selsey.Kelly Charters of Selsey p. 6 He was consecrated sometime between 709 and 716, and died between 716 and 731.Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 221 Wilfrid has occasionally been regarded as a previous bishop of the South Saxons, but this is an insertion of his name into the episcopal lists by later medieval writers, and Wilfrid was not considered the bishop during his lifetime or Bede's.Kelly Charters of Selsey pp. lxi–lxiiBede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People Book IV.13. Referring to the land grant at Selsey, Bede wrote: "Wilfrid..having built a monastery there established the regular life, most of the monks being his own companions.."

As abbot Eadberht received, around 700, a grant of land from Bryni, Ealdorman of Sussex, that was witnessed by Kings Nothelm of Sussex and Watt of Sussex.[http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+1173 Anglo-Saxon Charters S1173] accessed on 25 August 2007

In a charter dated by Birch about 725, Eadberht was named as the beneficiary of land from King Nothelm, witnessed by King Watt.Birch Cartularium Saxonicum p. 211Kelly Charters of Selsey p. 26. Birch's emendation (of the date) to 725 is still unsatisfactory since it is too late for Bishop Eadberht.[http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+43 Anglo-Saxon Charters S43] accessed on 25 August 2007 But this charter is now believed to be a forgery from the late 10th century or early 11th century.Kelly Charters of Selsey p. 26. "..is without doubt a forgery and not an innocent 10th century copy of a genuine eighth-century charter"[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=182-cap&cid=1-17-1#1-17-1 Diocese of Chichester Capitular Records] for Cap. I/17/1 (S43) With Professor H.L. Rogers findings on why manuscript is forgery. Accessed 22 February 2010

Eadberht also appears as a witness to an undated charter of Nothelm, together with Osric and Eolla. The charter can be approximately dated to some point between about 705 and 717.[http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+44 Anglo-Saxons.net Charters S44] accessed on 25 August 2007 Eadberht last appearance is as a witness to a confirmation, dated 716, of a charter of Wihtred, King of Kent.[http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+22 Anglo-Saxons.net Charters S22] accessed on 25 August 2007