 Little is known of Æthelberht 's life or reign , as very few East Anglian records have survived from this period . Mediaeval chroniclers have provided dubious accounts of his life , in the absence of any real details . According to Richard of Cirencester , writing in the fifteenth century , Æthelberht 's parents were Æthelred I of East Anglia and <unk> of Mercia . Richard narrates in detail a story of Æthelberht 's piety , election as king and wise rule . Urged to marry against his will , he apparently agreed to wed Eadburh , the daughter of Offa of Mercia , and set out to visit her , despite his mother 's forebodings and his experiences of terrifying events ( an earthquake , a solar eclipse and a vision ) . 
