I am tempted to node a completely different Essex in a completely different part of the world, but (sigh) I must finish what I started.
The domain of the "East
Saxons", Essex was a separate
kingdom, part of the
Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. Essex never rose to prominence like
Wessex or
Mercia.
Anglo-saxon kings of Essex
Aescwine (
527-
587)
Sledda (587-
604)
Saebehrt (604-
616)
Saexred and
Saeward (616-
617)
Sigebehrt I (617-
653)
Sigebehrt II (653-
660)
Swithelm (660-
665)
Sighere and
Sebbi (665-
683)
Sebbi (683-
695)
Sigeheard and
Swaefred (695-
709)
Offa (of
Mercia) (709)
Saelred (709-
746)
Swithred (746-
758)
Sigeric (758-
798)
Sigered (798-
825)
Egbert of
Wessex annexed Essex in 825. It became part of the inheritance of supernumerary sons on two occasions. The rulers of Essex after 825 are detailed in the
writeups for
Kent and Wessex, and later with the
Rulers of England. After
Alfred the Great rescued Wessex from oblivion, Essex was part of the
Danelaw while that entity existed.