Towards the end of the 8th century, Kent did not have a secure leadership and the kingdom of Wessex was pursuing an expansionist campaign under Cædwalla; the result was that Kent found itself being raided frequently by the West Saxons. It was reported that Cædwalla ravaged Kent with his brother Mul in 686. However, in 687 the people of Kent killed his brother Mul by 'burning' him. The "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" reports that Cædwalla overran Kent in the same year, presumably in response to his brother's violent death. The following year Caedwalla went on a pilgrimage to Rome, why he did this is not reported but he died while he was there. Stability was then returned to Kent under the new king Wihtred and also with Ine becoming king of Wessex. The people of Kent agreed to pay compensation (Weregild) to Wessex for the taking of Mul's life. The agreement may have included some ceding of border territory, and it has been hypothesized that the overlordship of Haestingas would have been ceded to Ine as part of this treaty. The southern kingdoms lived in relative peace for the next quarter century.