Saint Ebbe of Minster-in-Thanet
Also known as
• Aebbe of Minster-in-Thanet
• Domina Aebbe
• Domneva, Ermenburga, Ermenburgh
• Lady Ebba
Profile
Daughter of Prince Eormenred of Kent, England; grand-daughter of King Edbald. Sister of Saint Ermengitha, Saint Etheldreda, Saint Ethelred, and Saint Ethelbert of Eastry. Married to King Merewalh of Magonset. Mother of Saint Mildred of Thanet, Saint Milburga, and Saint Milgitha, and a son named Merefin who died very young.
In 664, Ebbe's cousin Egbert ascended to the throne of Kent. Worried about claims to the crown by Ethelred and Ethelbert, Egbert had them murdered. He later repented of the crime, and offered Queen Ebbe compensation for the loss (weregild). Ebbe chose a gift of as much land as her tame doe could run around in one course; the king agreed, and the Isle of Thanet was chosen as the site. The king's advisor, Thunor, who had recommended the murders, accused Ebbe of witchcraft, mounted his horse, and set off in pursuit of the doe; the earth promptly opened and swallowed him. The doe circled a large plot of land, which became the site of the monastery of Minster-on-Thanet, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin; today the area is known as Ebbsfleet in memory of Ebbe. On the death of King Merewalh in 673, Ebbe entered the convent as its first abbess.
Born
7th century Kent, England
Died
19 November 694 at Minster-in-Thanet, Kent, England of natural causes
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