Ethelwulf
King of Wessex
Reign	July, 839 - 856
Born	795
	Aachen
Died	858
Buried	Steyning Church, then the Old Minster, Winchester. Bones now in Winchester Cathedral
Consort	Osburga and Judith
Father	Egbert
Mother	Redburga

Ethelwulf's first tombstone, in the church porch at Steyning - the two incised crosses indicate a royal burial

Ethelwulf, Old English: Æþelwulf, (c. 795–858) was the elder son of King Egbert of Wessex. He conquered Kent on behalf of his father in 825. Thereafter he was styled King of Kent [1] until he succeeded his father as King of Wessex in 839, whereupon he became King of Wessex, Kent, Cornwall, the West Saxons and the East Saxons. [2] He was crowned at Kingston upon Thames. The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Events Louis the Pious attempts to divide his empire among his sons. ... Events Year of the Fire Rat begins in January. ... Events Leo III becomes pope Earliest recorded Viking raid on Ireland. ... Aachen, Dutch Aken, French Aix-la-Chapelle, Spanish Aquisgrán, Latin Aquisgranum, Ripuarian Oche) is a spa city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands, 65 km to the west of Cologne, and the westernmost city in Germany. ... Events Patriarch Ignatius is imprisoned and (December 25) deposed to be succeeded by patriarch Photius I. Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails. ... Map sources for Steyning at grid reference TQ1711 The Clock Tower in Steyning High Street Steyning is a small town and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. ... The Old Minster was the Anglo-Saxon cathedral for the diocese of Wessex and then Winchester from 660 to 1093. ... Winchester Cathedral as seen from the Cathedral Close View along the nave of Winchester Cathedral to the west door A plan published in 1911 Winchester Cathedral in Winchester, Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England. ... Judith (c. ... Egbert (also Ecgbehrt or Ecgbert) (c. ... Redburga or Raedburh was the wife of king Egbert of Wessex and may have been the sister-in-law of Charlemagne as the sister of his fourth wife, Luitgarde; other sources describe her as his sister (although Charlemagnes only sister was named Gisela) or his great-granddaughter (which would... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (756x1526, 141 KB) Ethelwulfs tombstone, from St Andrews Church, Steyning File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (756x1526, 141 KB) Ethelwulfs tombstone, from St Andrews Church, Steyning File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... Events Patriarch Ignatius is imprisoned and (December 25) deposed to be succeeded by patriarch Photius I. Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails. ... Egbert (also Ecgbehrt or Ecgbert) (c. ... Map of the British Isles circa 802 Wessex was one of the seven major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms (the Heptarchy) that preceded the Kingdom of England. ... Events Louis the Pious attempts to divide his empire among his sons. ... Kingston upon Thames, part of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is an ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned, and is now a lively suburb of London. ...

Sources

The most notable and commonly used primary source is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The chronicle makes reference to a few influential battles, of which Ethelwulf partook. In the year 840 AD, he fought at Carhampton against thirty-five ship companies of Danes, whose raids had increased considerably. His most notable victory came in 851 at "Acleah", probably Ockley or Oakley in Surrey. Here, Ethelwulf and his son Ethelbald fought against the heathen, and according to the chronicle it was "the greatest slaughter of heathen host ever made." Around the year 853, Ethelwulf, and his son-in-law, Burgred, King of Mercia defeated Cyngen ap Cadell of Wales and made the Welsh subject to him. The chronicle depicts more battles throughout the years, mostly against invading pirates and Danes. This was an era in European history where nations were being invaded from many different groups; there were Saracens in the south, Magyars in the east, Moors in the west, and Vikings in the north.^[1] Before Ethelwulf's death, raiders had wintered over on the Isle of Sheppey, and pilaged at will in East Anglia. Over the course of the next twenty years the struggles of his sons were to be "ceaseless, heroic, and largely futile." ^[2] The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals narrating the history of the English and their settlement in Britain. ... Events After the death of Louis the Pious, his sons Lothar, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight over the division of the empire, with Lothar succeeding as Emperor. ... Events Vikings plunder London Charles the Bald, Louis the German and Lothar meet in Meersen Oldest known mention of the Andaman Islands Garcia Iñiguez succeeds his father Iñigo Arista as king of Navarra Births Deaths March 7 - Nominoe, Duke of Brittany Categories: 851 ... Surrey is a county in southern England, part of the South East England region and one of the Home Counties. ... King Ethelbald of Wessex or Æþelbald (Means roughly Noble Bold) was the eldest son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born in about 831 or 834. ... Events A Byzantine fleet destroys Damiette (in Egypt) Births Deaths Categories: 853 ... Burgred or Burhred or Burghred was the last king of Mercia (852 - 874). ... Cyngen ap Cadell (died 855) was a king of Powys in eastern Wales. ... Motto: (Welsh for Wales forever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) English, Welsh Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification    - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056  Area    - Total 20,779 km² (3rd in... For the rugby club Saracens see Saracens (rugby club) The term Saracen comes from Greek sarakenoi. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Moors (race). ... The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen who originated in Scandinavia and raided the coasts of the British Isles, France and other parts of Europe from the late 8th century to the 11th century. ... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ...

Family Life

In 839, Ethelwulf succeeded his father Egbert as King. Egbert had been a grizzeled veteran who had fought for survival since his youth. Ethelwulf had a worrying style of Kingship. He had come naturally to the throne of Wessex. He proved to be intensly religious, cursed with little political sense, and too many able and ambitious sons. [Humble, Richard. The Saxon Kings. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1980. 41.] One of the first acts Ethelwulf did as King, was to split the kingdom. He gave the eastern half, that of Kent, Essex, Surrey and Sussex to his eldest son Athelstan (not to be confused with the later Athelstan the Glorious). Ethelwulf kept the ancient, western side of Wessex (Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon) for himself. Ethelwulf and his first wife, Osburh, had five sons and a daughter. After Athelstan came, Ethelbald, Ethelbert, Ethelred, and Alfred. Each of his sons succeeded to the throne. Alfred, the youngest son, has been praised as one of the greatest kings to ever reign in Britain. Ethelwulf's only daughter, Aethelswith, was married as a child to the king of Mercia. Events Louis the Pious attempts to divide his empire among his sons. ... King Ethelbert or Æþelberht of Wessex (Means Magnificent Noble) was a son of Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born in around 835 AD. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbald of Wessex, as King of Wessex in 860, but died without issue in about 865. ... Life King Ethelred I (Old English: Æþelræd) (c. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The general location of Mercia, along with the other peoples of Britain around the year 600. ...

Religion

Religion was always an important area in Ethelwulf's life. As early as the first year of his reign he had planned a pilgrimage to Rome. Due to the ongoing and increasing raids he felt the need to appeal to the Christian God for help against an enemy "so agile, and numerous, and profane." [Humble, Richard. The Saxon Kings. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1980. 41.]

In 853 Ethelwulf, sent his son, Alfred a child of about four years, to Rome. In 855, about a year after his wife Osburh's death, Ethelwulf followed Alfred to Rome. In Rome, he was generous with his wealth. He distributed gold to the clergy of St. Peter's, and offered the Blessed Peter chalices of the purest gold and silver-gilt candelabra of Saxon work. [Hodgkin, RH. A History of the Anglo-Saxons. London: Oxford UP, 1935. 512.] During the return journey in 856 he married Judith Martel a Frankish princess who was about twelve years old, she was the daughter of Charles the Bald, King of the West Franks. Events A Byzantine fleet destroys Damiette (in Egypt) Births Deaths Categories: 853 ... Events Louis II succeeds Lothar as western emperor. ... Nickname: The Eternal City Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 8th century BC Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1,285 km²  (496. ... Events Year of the Fire Rat begins in January. ... Judith (c. ... Charles the Bald - Detail from a painting in the First Bible of Charles the Bald, painted ca. ... West Franks. ...

Upon their return to England in 856 Ethelwulf met with an acute crisis. His eldest son Ethelbald (Athelstan had since died) had devised a conspiracy with the Ealdorman of Somerset and the Bishop of Sherborne to oppose Ethelwulf's resumption of the kingship once he returned. There was enough support of Ethelwulf to either have a civil war, or to banish Ethelbald and his fellow conspirators. Instead Ethelwulf yeilded Wessex proper to his son, and accpeted Surrey, Sussex and Essex for himself. he ruled there until his death on January 13, 858. The family quarrel, had it been allowed to continue, could have ruined the House of Egbert. Ethelwulf and his advisors deserved the adoration bestowed upon them for their restraint and tolerance. January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Patriarch Ignatius is imprisoned and (December 25) deposed to be succeeded by patriarch Photius I. Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails. ...

That the king should have consented to treat with his rebellious son, to refer the compromise to a meeting of Saxon nobles, to moderate the pugnacity of his own supporters, and to resign the rule over the more important half of his dominions- all this testifies to the fact that Ethelwulf’s Christian spirit did not exhaust itself in the giving of lavish charities to the Church, but availed to reconcile him to the sacrifice of prestige and power in the cause of national peace. [Hodgkin, RH. A History of the Anglo-Saxons. London: Oxford UP, 1935. 515.]

Ethelwulf's ring, depicted in Cassell's History of England, Century Edition, published circa 1902

Image File history File links Ethelwulfs Ring Image from Cassells History of England - Century Edition - published circa 1902 Scan by Tagishsimon, 23rd June 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Ethelwulfs Ring Image from Cassells History of England - Century Edition - published circa 1902 Scan by Tagishsimon, 23rd June 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Ethelwulf's restoration included a special concession on the part of the Saxon queens. The West Saxons did not allow the queen to sit next to the king. In fact they were not referred to as a queen, but merely the "wife of the king." This restriction was lifted for Queen Judith, probably because she was a high ranking European princess.

He was buried first at Steyning and then later transferred to the Old Minster in Winchester. His bones now reside in one of several mortuary chests in Winchester Cathedral. Map sources for Steyning at grid reference TQ1711 The Clock Tower in Steyning High Street Steyning is a small town and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. ... The Old Minster was the Anglo-Saxon cathedral for the diocese of Wessex and then Winchester from 660 to 1093. ... Winchester Cathedral as seen from the Cathedral Close Arms of Winchester City Council Winchester is a city in southern England, and the administrative capital of the county of Hampshire, with a population of around 35,000. ... Winchester Cathedral as seen from the Cathedral Close View along the nave of Winchester Cathedral to the west door A plan published in 1911 Winchester Cathedral in Winchester, Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England. ...

The gold ring, depicted in the picture, is about an inch across, richly decorated with religious symbols, is inscribed Ethelwulf Rex and was found at Laverstock, Wiltshire, in 1780; it was believed to have been a gift from Ethelwulf to a loyal follower.

Egbert (also Ecgbehrt or Ecgbert) (c. ... This is a list of monarchs of Wessex until 924. ... Events Louis the Pious attempts to divide his empire among his sons. ... Events Year of the Fire Rat begins in January. ... King Ethelbald of Wessex or Æþelbald (Means roughly Noble Bold) was the eldest son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born in about 831 or 834. ... The Kingdom of Kent was a kingdom of Jutes in southeast England, one of the seven traditional kingdoms of the so-called Anglo-Saxon heptarchy. ... Events Louis the Pious attempts to divide his empire among his sons. ... Events Year of the Fire Rat begins in January. ...

See also

• List of monarchs of Kent
• Chronology of Kentish Kings
• List of monarchs of Wessex

Kings of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent Most of the dates of reigns below have multiple alternate values, the sources being in disagreement. ... Chronology of Kentish Kings The regnal dates for the earlier kings are known only from Bede, who piously expunged apostates (Unde cunctis placuit regum tempora computantibus, ut ablata de medio regum perfidorum memoria, idem annus sequentis regis), and seems also to have deliberately suppressed details of short or joint reigns... This is a list of monarchs of Wessex until 924. ...

References

• Ashley, Maurice. Great Britain to 1688: A Modern History. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1961.
• Garmonsway, GN. Translation of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. London: JM Dent & Sons, 1953.
• Hindley, Geoffrey. The Anglo-Saxons. London: Robinson, 2006.
• Hodgkin, RH. A History of the Anglo-Saxons. London: Oxford UP, 1935.
• Humble, Richard. The Saxon Kings. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1980.