Ethelhard
Fourteenth Archbishop of Canterbury ; died 805 . He was elected to the see at a time when Offa, King of the Mercians, was attempting to weaken Canterbury ‘s influence and had succeeded in securing the pallium for the incumbent of the See of Lichfield. Ethelhard encountered many difficulties, being for a time obliged to flee from his see, but when Cenwulf succeeded in Mercia, they worked together for the restoration of the rights of Canterbury, the dispute being ended by Ethelhard’s visit to Rome in 801 . The success of Offa’s policy would have impeded the attainment of national unity, and its defeat by Ethelhard is an event of the greatest importance in the history of the making of the English nation.
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Ethelhard
archbishop of Canterbury, does not seem to have figured in history until his consecration to that see, July 21, 793. His first public act was to assist in nominating representatives to attend the council which the emperor Charlemagne had called to assemble at Frankfort, one of the most important councils ever held in the West. His administration was one of success and satisfaction to his people. He was especially instrumental in securing, in 802, the pope’s recognition of the sovereign rights of the see. He died May 12, 805. See Hook, Lives of the Abps. of Canterbury, 1:255 sq.; Smith, Dict. of Christ. Biog. s.v.