Editing Kingdom of Essex (section)

===Essex monarchy===
Essex emerged as a single kingdom during the 6th century. The dates, names and achievements of the Essex kings, like those of most early rulers in the [[Heptarchy]], remain conjectural. The historical identification of the kings of Essex, including the evidence and a reconstructed genealogy are discussed extensively by Yorke.<ref>{{cite book|last=Yorke|first=Barbara|chapter=The Kingdom of the East Saxons|title=Anglo-Saxon England 14|year=1985|pages=1–36|editor-first=Peter|editor-last=Clemoes|editor2-first=Simon|editor2-last=Keynes|editor3-first=Michael|editor3-last=Lapidge|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}</ref> The dynasty claimed descent from [[Odin|Woden]] via [[Seaxnēat]]. A genealogy of the Essex royal house was prepared in Wessex in the 9th century. Unfortunately, the surviving copy is somewhat mutilated.<ref>{{cite book|last=Yorke|first=Barbara|chapter=The Kingdom of the East Saxons|title=Anglo-Saxon England 14|year=1985|page=3|editor-first=Peter|editor-last=Clemoes|editor2-first=Simon|editor2-last=Keynes|editor3-first=Michael|editor3-last=Lapidge|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}</ref> At times during the history of the kingdom several sub-kings within Essex appear to have been able to rule simultaneously.<ref name="Yorke, B. 1984 pp47-52"/> They may have exercised authority over different parts of the kingdom. The first recorded king, according to the East Saxon King List, was [[Æscwine of Essex|Æscwine]], to which a date of 527 is given for the start of his reign, although there are some difficulties with the date of his reign, and [[Sledd of Essex|Sledd]] is listed as the founder of the Essex royal house by other sources.<ref>{{cite book|last=Yorke|first=Barbara|chapter=The Kingdom of the East Saxons|title=Anglo-Saxon England 14|year=1985|page=16|editor-first=Peter|editor-last=Clemoes|editor2-first=Simon|editor2-last=Keynes|editor3-first=Michael|editor3-last=Lapidge|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}</ref> The kings of Essex are notable for their S-nomenclature, nearly all their names begin with the letter S.

The Essex kings issued coins that echoed those issued by [[Cunobeline]] simultaneously asserting a link to the first century rulers while emphasising independence from Mercia.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Anglo-Saxons|year=1991|publisher=Penguin|pages=63–64|chapter=Anglo-Saxon Coins 1|first=DM|last=Metcalf|editor=Campbell, James}}</ref>