Kent, kingdom of

Anglo-Saxon kingdom in southeast England, founded by the Jutes when they arrived in Britain as foederati under Hengest and Horsa in the 5th century AD. Kent was the first English kingdom to convert to Christianity in 597 under its king, Ethelbert, although when he died in 616 much of the kingdom reverted to paganism. Kent was divided from 686–90 and then came under the control of Mercia around 762 before being absorbed by Wessex in 825.