Stamboom Heijting (heiting,heitink,heytinck,heyting,heytink) » Ethelwulf van Engeland (± 800-858)

Persoonlijke gegevens Ethelwulf van Engeland 

• Hij is geboren rond 800.
• Hij is overleden op 13 januari 858 in londen, engeland.
• De biologische ouders zijn Egbert 3 de grote van Wessex en Redburga van Franken
• Deze gegevens zijn voor het laatst bijgewerkt op 25 december 2019.

Gezin van Ethelwulf van Engeland

(1) Hij is getrouwd met Osburh van Wight (arigh).

Zij zijn getrouwd rond 830.

gescheiden ca 853

Kind(eren):

1. Aethelswith van Engeland  ????-± 888
2. Osweald  ????-± 875
3. Aethelbald  ± 834-± 860
4. Ethelred 1 van Engeland  ± 837-871 
5. Alfred de grote van Wessex  ± 848-899 

(2) Hij is getrouwd met Judith van West-francie.

Zij zijn getrouwd rond 856.

• Het echtpaar heeft gemeenschappelijke voorouders.



Notities over Ethelwulf van Engeland

13. Ethelwulf, ook Æthelwulf of Edelwolv (geboren ca. 800 – Londen, 13 januari 858) was koning van Wessex (839 – 856) en van Kent(825 – 856), Essex en Sussex. Hij was zoon van Egbert van Wessex en Redburga.
In 825 veroverde hij Kent voor Wessex, en werd daar koning onder het oppergezag van zijn vader. In 839 volgde hij zijn vader op als koning van Wessex, dat in die tijd het gehele zuidelijke kustgebied van Engeland omvatte: van Cornwall tot Essex. Hij werd gekroond in Kingston upon Thames. Al snel gaf hij het bestuur over het oostelijk deel van zijn rijk aan zijn oudste zoon Æthelstan en huwt zijn nog erg jonge dochter met de koning van Mercia.
Ethelwulf bereikt in 850 een akkoord over een grensgeschil met Mercia. Daarna wordt hij geconfronteerd met een inval van de Vikingen onder Rorik van Duurstede, die Canterbury en Londen wisten te veroveren en daarna Mercia versloegen. Ethelwulf versloeg de Vikingen in 851 bij Oakly of Ockly. Hij moest wel toestaan de East Anglia onder controle van de Vikingen bleef. Ook versloeg hij in 853, samen met Mercia, Cyngen ap Cadell van Wales.
In 853 stuurde hij zijn jongste zoon Alfred, die zes jaar oud was en vermoedelijk was voorbestemd voor een geestelijk ambt, naar Rome. In 855 (vermoedelijk na het overlijden van zijn vrouw) ging hij ook zelf naar Rome en deed kostbare schenkingen aan de kerk, o.a. gouden kelken en vergulde zilveren kandelaars aan de St. Pieter en erkende ook de opperheerschappij van de paus. Na zijn terugkeer in 856 werd hij geconfronteerd door zijn zoons die tijdens zijn afwezigheid hadden geregeerd en steun hadden van de adel en de geestelijkheid. Ethelwulf koos voor onderhandelingen en er werd een compromis bereikt waarbij de macht werd gedeeld. Begin 858 overleed hij in Londen.
Ethelwulf overleed in Londen maar werd begraven in Steyning (Sussex). In de kerk daar is zijn vermoedelijke grafsteen nog te zien. Het graf werd echter verplaatst naar de Old Minster in Winchester en toen die werd afgebroken, werden zijn resten verplaatst naar de huidige kathedraal van Winchester.

Van Ethelwulf zijn twee huwelijken gedocumenteerd maar er wordt aangenomen dat hij drie keer getrouwd is geweest en ook nog een minnares heeft gehad. Anders zijn leeftijdsverschillen tussen zijn kinderen en de manier waarop hun onderlinge verhouding wordt beschreven, niet te verklaren:

veronderstelde eerste vrouw:
Æthelstan

Osburga (ca. 810 – 855?), dochter van Oslac van Wight
Ethelbald (ca. 834 – 860)
Ethelswith (ovl. Pavia, 888). Vermoedelijk als jong meisje uitgehuwelijkt aan koning Burghred van Mercia. Overleden op weg naar Rome.
Ethelred (ca. 837 – 871)
Alfred de Grote (848 of 849 – 899) (VOLGT 14)
Osweald, (ovl. ca. 875), alleen bekend als getuige uit enkele aktes.

Judith van West-Francië een dochter van Karel de Kale, die op 1 oktober 856 te Verberie-sur-Oise, 12 jaar oud, met de toen bijna 60-jarige Ethelwulf trouwde. Zij hadden geen kinderen. Volgens Frankisch gebruik werd ze “koningin” genoemd in plaats van “vrouw van de koning” wat onder de Angelsaksen gebruikelijk was. Deze meer formele status leidde tot veel weerstand onder de adel. Na de spoedige dood van Ethelwulf, nam diens oudste zoon Ethelbald haar tot vrouw. Ook dit huwelijk bleef zonder kinderen en werd later ongeldig verklaard wegens (aangetrouwde) bloedverwantschap. Judith werd teruggezonden naar haar vader en werd uiteindelijk van zijn hof geschaakt door Boudewijn I van Vlaanderen die later met haar trouwde.
minnares:
Ethelbert (ca. 835 – 866). Kon na de dood van Ethelbald koning worden, vermoedelijk omdat de overgebleven wettige zoons nog te jong waren.

john ooms.nl

Ethelwulf succeeded his father Egbert and reigned from 839 to 856. Ethelwulf had a pretty easy time being accepted as a king after his father. In general, Egbert's descendants were accepted by the people of England. It is believed that people accepted Ethelwulf because he had previously been the sub-king of Kent, while his father was king of Wessex. Later in Ethelwulf's reign, his son, Athelstan, became the sub-king of Kent.

Ethelwulf, the name meaning noble wolf, is described by chroniclers as being a heavily built man, who was inclined to be sluggish and indolent. Of a gentle and pious nature, Ethelwulf had expressed a desire to be a priest when he was young, his warlike father was said to have found his pacific eldest son a disappointment. He was aided in government by St. Swithin, Bishop of Winchester, at the time a senior statesman but now chiefly remembered as the patron saint of rainy weather.

The new ruler was crowned at Kingston-upon-Thames in 839. He consolidated the power of Wessex and re-asserted the supremacy over Mercia. An alliance was formed by marrying his daughter to the Mercian King, which was to prove of lasting value to the House of Wessex.

Much of Ethelwulf's reign was spent combating the invading Vikings, whom he struggled to contain. They sailed repeatedly up the Thames and pillaged London and the towns of Rochester and Canterbury. A congress was held at Kingsbury in Oxfordshire, to encourage co-operation with the Mercians in repelling the mutual enemy, to which Ethelwulf sent his father-in-law, Osric, as his ambassador. Ethelwulf, along with his son, Ethelbald, met and defeated them in battle in 851 at Achleah, possibly Oakley in Surrey, where according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle he inflicted 'the greatest slaughter of a heathen army that was ever heard of to this present day', thereby Ethelwulf obtained temporary security for his kingdom.

Ethelwulf had a few wives, beginning with Osburh, the daughter of Oslac of Hampshire, a Jute, originating from the Isle of Wight, purported to have been able to trace his line back to Jarl Hengist, one of the leaders of the first Saxon armies to invade England. She was very intelligent but she also had a good reputation. She was said to be a pious woman and was highly respected among the people. The couple had much in common, their children were to be brought up with a deep reverence for religion. Osburh produced five sons, four of whom were to reign in turn, after their father. She died around 850. Shortly after her death, Ethelwulf and his most beloved son, Alfred, went to Rome. Upon return Ethelwulf formed a strong bond with Charles the Bald, King of the Franks, taking in marriage his daughter Judith, who was descended from Charlemagne. The pair were married at Verberie sur Oise on 1 October, 856 and the new Queen of Wessex was solemnly crowned by the Bishop of Rheims.

Despite Alfred being the favorite son, he was not next in line to reign. During Ethelwulf's absence, the oldest surviving son, Ethelbald, who strongly suspected that his father wished to make his favourite son, Alfred, heir to Wessex, had taken advantage of the discontent of his subjects and usurped the throne. The practice of recognising the successor as co-king was an established practice among Germanic tribes. Although he retained some support, to avoid bloodshed and civil dissension, Ethelwulf nobly accepted the status quo and reverted to his former position as sub-king of Kent. While ruling in Kent, he did much to assist the poor of the area. His care continued after his death, for he left provisions in his will for his successors to provide food, drink and lodging for one poor man per tenth hide of cultivated land in the kingdom. King Ethelwulf died in 858, much mourned by his people, few monarchs have had such an epitaph. He was buried at Steyning, but his body was later moved to Winchester Cathedral.
wikipedia

ÆTHELWULF, son of ECGBERHT King of Wessex & his wife Redburga --- ([795/810]-13 Jan 858, bur Winchester Cathedral). The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle names Æthelwulf as son of Ecgberht[1486]. Kirby suggests[1487] that Æthelwulf could have been born as late as 810, although this would not be consistent with the supposed date of his father's marriage and is unlikely to be correct if Æthelstan (see below) was King Æthelwulf's son. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 825 "Egbert king of Wessex…sent his son Æthelwulf…and Wulfheard his ealdorman to Kent with a great force" where they expelled King Baldred[1488]. "Æthelwulfi regis filii mei" was co-grantor of land at Canterbury to "Ciaba clericus" with "Ægberhtus rex occidentalium Saxonum" by charter dated 836[1489]. "Æthelwulf rex Cancie" was co-grantor of land in Kent with "Egberthus rex occident Saxonum pater meus" by charters dated [833/39] and 838 respectively[1490]. Under-King of Kent, Essex, Sussex and Surrey 825-839. He succeeded his father in 839 as ÆTHELWULF King of Wessex, crowned [later in 839] at Kingston-upon-Thames. Danish raids intensified during his reign. Great damage was done in Lindsey, East Anglia and Kent in 841, and Southampton was plundered in 842. Before 850, King Æthelwulf had settled the ancient dispute with Mercia about the lands to the west of the middle Thames by transferring Berkshire from Mercia to Wessex[1491]. He defeated a large Danish army south of the Thames at Aclea in 851 after it had stormed Canterbury and London and driven Burghred King of Mercia to flight[1492]. King Æthelwulf made a pilgrimage to Rome in 855, leaving the government in the hands of his son Æthelbald. At the request of Pope Benedict III, he made a public distribution of gold and silver to the clergy, leading men of Rome and the people[1493]. William of Malmesbury records that Æthelbald rebelled against his father during his absence and, after returning, King Æthelwulf abdicated part of his realm in Wessex in favour of his son to avoid civil war, continuing to rule in the other part of Wessex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex[1494]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death of King Æthelwulf two years after returning from Rome and his burial at Winchester[1495].

[m] [firstly] ([815/20]) ---. There is no direct proof of this supposed first marriage. However, the likely birth date of King Æthelwulf's son Æthelstan suggests a substantial age difference with his brothers, indicating that he was probably not born from the same mother.

m [secondly] ([830/33]) OSBURGA, daughter of OSLAC Ealdorman of the Isle of Wight & his wife --- (-[852/55]). Asser names "Osburga…daughter of Oslac the famous butler of King Æthelwulf…a Goth by nation" as the mother of King Alfred, specifying that her father was descended from "the Goths and Jutes…namely of Stuf and Whitgar two brothers…who…received possession of the Isle of Wight from their uncle King Cerdic"[1496]. She is named as mother of King Alfred by Roger of Hoveden, who also names her father, specifying that he was "pincerna regis"[1497].

m [thirdly] ([Verberie-sur-Oise] 1 Oct 856) as her first husband, JUDITH of the Franks, daughter of CHARLES II "le Chauve" King of the West Franks & his first wife Ermentrudis [d’Orléans] ([844]-after 870). The Annales Bertiniani record the betrothal in Jul 856 of "Iudith filiam Karli regis" and "Edilvulf rex occidentalium Anglorum" after the latter returned from Rome and their marriage "Kal Oct in Vermaria palatio", during which "Ingmaro Durocortori Remorum episcopo" set a queen's diadem on her head[1498]. She and her father are named by Roger of Hoveden when he records her marriage to King Æthelwulf[1499]. Her husband placed her "by his own side on the regal throne", contrary to normal practice according to Asser, who also says that the subservient position previously given to the queen was adopted in Wessex after the reign of King Beorhtric because of the unpopular influence of his queen Eadburh of Mercia[1500]. Queen Judith married secondly ([858/59]) her stepson, Æthelbald King of Wessex. The Annales Bertiniani record the marriage of "Iudit reginam" and "Adalboldus filius eius [=Edilvulf regis]" in 858 after the death of her first husband[1501]. She eloped with her future third husband, Baudouin I Count of Flanders, around Christmas 861 and married him at Auxerre end-863. The Annales Bertiniani record that Judith returned to her father after the death of her second husband, lived at Senlis "sub tuitione paterna", and from there was abducted by "Balduinum comitem" with the consent of her brother Louis, her father consenting to the marriage the following year[1502]. Flodoard names "Balduini comitis et Iudita…Karoli regis filia, Edilvulfo regi Anglorum qui et Edelboldus in matrimonium"[1503].

[Mistress (1): ---. The uncertain nature of the precise relationship of King Æthelberht to the royal family is explained below, one of the possibilities being that he was an illegitimate son of King Æthelwulf by an unknown concubine.]

King Æthelwulf & his [first wife] had one child:

1. ÆTHELSTAN ([820/26]-[851/53]). The sources are contradictory concerning the parentage of Æthelstan. One manuscript of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that Æthelstan was the second son of King Ecgberht, but another says "Æthelwulf, son of Ecgberht, succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex, and he gave his son Æthelstan the kingdom of Kent and Essex and of Surrey and of Sussex"[1504]. If Æthelstan was the son of King Æthelwulf, he must have been considerably older than his brothers, and therefore probably not born from the same mother. Æthelstan's birth date is estimated from his appointment as under king in 839, on the assumption that this was unlikely to have been before he was a teenager. Weir[1505] states that Æthelstan (whom she places as King Ecgberht's son) had a son named Ethelweard who was under-King of Kent and who died in 850, but the source on which this is based is not known. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Æthelstan was under-King of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex in 839[1506]. "Ethelstan/Æthelstan rex" subscribed three charters of King Æthelwulf granting lands in Kent dated 841, 842 and 845[1507]. "Edelstan rex Kancie" granted land at Rochester, Kent to "Ealhere princeps", jointly with King Æthelwulf, by charter dated 850[1508]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that he and his ealdorman Ealhere defeated a Danish force at sea off Sandwich [851][1509]. Asser records that "king Athelstan, son of king Æthelwulf, and earl Ealhere slew a large army of pagans in Kent at…Sandwich" in 851, and that "earl Ealhere with the men of Kent" fought more pagans "in the island…Tenet" in 853 where Ælhere was killed[1510]. It is assumed that Æthelstan died before 853 as he is not named as having taken part in this second battle. Æthelstan had [one possible child]:

a) [ÆTHELWEARD (-850). Weir[1511] states that Æthelstan (whom she places as King Ecgberht's son) had a son named Ethelweard who was under-King of Kent and who died in 850, but the primary source on which this is based is not known.]

King Æthelwulf & his [second] wife had [five] children:

2. ÆTHELBALD ([835/40]-20 Dec 860, bur Sherborne Abbey, Dorset). "Edelbaldus filius suus" fought with King Æthelwulf at Temesmuthe, London and in Kent in 851[1512]. He was appointed under-king in Wessex when his father left for Rome in 855. Asser records that "king Ethelbald and Ealstan bishop of…Sherborne, with Eanwulf earl of the district of Somerton are said to have made a conspiracy together that king Ethelwulf, on his return from Rome, should never again be received into his kingdom" and that "many ascribe [the plot] solely to the insolence of the king, because the king was pertinacious in this matter, and in many other perversities…as also was proved by the result of that which follows"[1513]. After his return, Æthelwulf abdicated part of his realm in favour of his son, who succeeded as ÆTHELBALD King of Wessex, while his father continued to rule in the other part of Wessex and in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex. Stenton says that Æthelwulf did this "to avoid a civil war" after learning that "his eldest son and some of the leading men of Wessex were resolved that he should not be received as king" after returning to England[1514]. Presumably he bases this on the report by Asser. The new conclusions referred to below regarding the possible illegitimacy of King Æthelwulf's son Æthelberht suggest another possible explanation. Æthelberht, most likely older than his half-brother Æthelbald, may have been the ring-leader of the plot. King Æthelwulf may have wished to control Æthelberht's ambitions by installing his oldest legitimate son as king during his own lifetime. Asser's report blaming Æthelbald may have been due to the chronicler's evident disapproval of the king's marrying his stepmother after his father's death (see below). In fact, this rather surprising marriage may also have been motivated by the need to reinforce Æthelbald's possibly weak power-base in the face of a continuing threat from his more powerful older half-brother Æthelberht. "Adelbaldus ex occidentalium Saxonem" granted land at Teffont, Wiltshire to "Osmund minister" by charter dated 860, subscribed by (in order) "Iudith regis filius [sic]" and "Osric dux"[1515]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 860 of King Æthelbald and his burial at Sherborne[1516]. m ([858/59], separated) as her second husband, his stepmother, JUDITH of the Franks, widow of ÆTHELWULF King of Wessex, daughter of CHARLES II "le Chauve" King of the West Franks & his first wife Ermentrudis [d’Orléans] ([844]-after 870). Asser records that when King Æthelwulf was dead, his son Æthelbald married Judith daughter of Charles king of the Franks "contrary to God's prohibition and the dignity of a Christian, contrary also to the custom of all the pagans…and drew down much infamy upon himself"[1517]. The Annales Bertiniani record the marriage of "Iudit reginam" and "Adalboldus filius eius [=Edilvulf regis]" in 858 after the death of her first husband[1518]. Roger of Hoveden also records this second marriage of Judith[1519]. Roger of Wendover records the marriage and adds that Æthelbald repudiated his wife in penitence for the marriage[1520]. "Iudith regis filius [sic]" subscribed a charter of King Æthelbald dated 860[1521]. This presumably refers to Judith, Æthelbald's wife. Although it is not impossible that Queen Judith had a daughter by her first husband, her own date of birth indicates that it is unlikely that such a child could have been born before [858], in which case the daughter would probably not have been considered old enough to have subscribed a charter in 860. The "regis filius [=filia]" reference is nevertheless surprising (why not "regina"?), although one explanation is that it refers to her as daughter of the Frankish king rather than her relationship to the Wessex royal family. Another simpler explanation is that it was simply a copyist's error. The Annales Bertiniani record that Judith returned to her father after the death of her second husband, lived at Senlis "sub tuitione paterna", and from there was abducted by "Balduinum comitem" with the consent of her brother Louis, her father consenting to the marriage the following year[1522]. Judith eloped with her future third husband, Baudouin I Count of Flanders, around Christmas 861 and married him at Auxerre end-863. Flodoard names "Balduini comitis et Iudita…Karoli regis filia, Edilvulfo regi Anglorum qui et Edelboldus in matrimonium"[1523].

3. ÆTHELSWITH ([838/41]-in Italy 888, bur Pavia). The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that King Æthelwulf gave his (unnamed) daughter in marriage to King Burghred[1524]. Asser records that in 853 after Easter King Æthelwulf "gave his daughter to Burhred king of the Mercians…at the royal vill of Chippenham"[1525]. Her name is confirmed by the charter of "Burgred rex Mercensium" dated 855 subscribed by "Æthelswith regina"[1526]. It is assumed that Æthelswith was her father's legitimate daughter by his wife Osburga, but this is not certain. She was probably older than her brothers Æthelred and Alfred in view of her 853 marriage, although the possibility of an infant marriage cannot be excluded. Æthelswith had no known children from whose birth dates one could calculate their mother's age. "Æthelswith regina" was co-grantor with King Burgred in a grant of land at Upthrop to Wulflaf dated 869[1527]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 888 "ealdorman Beocca and queen Æthelswith who was king Alfred's sister took the alms of the West Saxons and of king Alfred to Rome", one manuscript specifying that she "passed away on the way to Rome", another that she was buried in Pavia[1528]. Ingulph's Chronicle of the Abbey of Croyland records that she was buried "at Ticinum"[1529]. m (Chippenham after Easter 853) BURGHRED King of Mercia, son of --- (-Rome after 874). He turned to Æthelwulf King of Wessex in 853 for help against the Britons of Wales, and was given his daughter in marriage[1530]. "Burgred rex Mercensium" granted lands to bishop Alhhun under charter dated 855, and was co-grantor with his wife in a grant of land at Upthrop to Wulflaf dated 869[1531]. The 855 charter shows that the Danes were in Mercia around the Wrekin in that year[1532]. King Burghred, in alliance with his brothers-in-law King Æthelred and Alfred of Wessex, gathered near Nottingham in 868 to fight the Danes but bought peace from them without fighting. However, the Danish army moved on Repton in late 873, and Burghred was forced out in 874. He left for Rome where he spent the rest of his life.

4. ÆTHELRED ([844/47]-[15/22] Apr 871, bur Wimborne Minster, Dorset[1533]). Weir estimates that Æthelred must have been born in [840][1534]. However, it is likely that he was no more than a young adolescent in 860, presumably not powerful enough to prevent his being displaced in the succession by his older half-brother Æthelberht. "Æthelred/Ethered filius regis" subscribed charters of King Æthelberht dated 860, 863 and 864[1535]. He succeeded his brother in 866 as ÆTHELRED I King of Wessex, crowned soon after at Kingston-upon-Thames. Danish incursions increased during his reign, Asser recording that the invaders wintered for the first time in East Anglia[1536]. King Æthelred and his younger brother Alfred allied themselves with their brother-in-law Burghred King of Mercia to fight the Danes near Nottingham in Autumn 868, but Burghred bought peace without fighting. In 870, the Danes moved against Wessex, establishing winter quarters at Reading. Following an unsuccessful attack on Reading, Æthelred and Alfred defeated the Danes at Ashdown, but were themselves defeated at Basing in early 871. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 871 "after Easter" (dated to 15 Apr in 871, according to Cheney[1537]) of King Æthelred and his burial at Wimborne[1538]. Florence of Worcester records the death "post Pascha" of "rex Ætheredus" and his burial "IX Kal Mai in Winburnan"[1539]. m (868) WULFTHRYTH, daughter of --- ([848/53]-). "Wulfthryth regina" subscribed one of the two charters of King Æthelred I dated 868[1540], which suggests that she married during that year. Her birth date range is estimated from her having given birth to two known children before the death of her husband in 871. Her parentage is not known. However, the importance of Ealdorman Wulfhere's position at the court of King Æthelred I is shown by the position of his name among subscribers to the king's charters: he was first subscriber, even before the king's brother Alfred, in a charter dated 862, and second subscriber, after the queen, in a charter dated 868[1541]. It is tempting therefore to speculate that Æthelred's queen was Wulfthryth, daughter of Wulfhere Ealdorman & his wife ---, especially with the common use of the root "Wulf-" in their names. King Æthelred I & [his wife] had two children:

a) ÆTHELHELM ([868/70]-898). King Alfred, under his will probably dated to [879/88], bequeathed estates at Aldingbourne, Compton, Crondall, Beeding, Beddingham, Burnham, Thunderfield and Earhing to "my brother's son Æthelhelm"[1542]. He is named in the will before his brother Æthelwold, and received more extensive estates, suggesting that Æthelhelm was his father's older son. "Æthelhel[m] dux" subscribed the same undated charter of King Alfred as his brother Æthelwald, although curiously Æthelhelm is not given the epithet "filius regis" in the charter, in contrast to Æthelwald. Æthelhelm had [one possible child]:

i) [ÆTHELFRITH (-904 or after). According to Anscombe[1543], Æthelfrith was the son of Æthelhelm, son of Æthelred I King of England. However, this is unlikely to be correct from a chronological point of view. Any grandsons of King Æthelred could not have been born before [890] at the earliest, while Ealdorman Æthelfrith was definitely active in 901, and even as early as 884 if the subscriptions of charters of that date refer to the same person. Kelly accepts that "the generations are too crowded" but does not analyse the impact of the chronology on the viability of the proposed descent[1544]. "Æthelferth ealdorman/dux/comes" and "Æthelfrith dux" subscribed two charters of Æthelred Ealdorman of Mercia in 884 and four charters of King Edward dated between 901 and 904[1545]. "Æthelfrith dux" was also granted land at Wrington, Somerset by King Edward under a charter dated 903[1546].

- ANGLO-SAXON NOBILITY.]

b) ÆTHELWOLD ([869/71]-killed at the battle of the Holm [902/05]). King Alfred, under his will probably dated to [879/88], bequeathed residences at Godalming, Guildford and Steyning to "my brother's son Æthelwold"[1547]. He is named in the will after his brother Æthelhelm and received fewer estates than his brother, suggesting that Æthelwold was his father's younger son. "Athelwald filius regis" subscribed a charter of King Alfred[1548], undated, but the reference to his predecessor (King Æthelred I) as "regis" may indicate that it should be dated to the earliest years of King Alfred's reign, although after the birth of the king's son Edward[1549] whose name is listed among the subscribers immediately after Æthelwold. "Æthelwald dux/ealdorman" subscribed two charters of King Alfred dated 882 and 884, in the latter he was recorded first in the list of subscribers[1550]. An infant on the death of his father in 871, he was passed over for the succession in favour of his uncle Alfred. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 899 "Æthelwold son of his [King Eadward’s] paternal uncle seized the manor at Wimborne and at Christchurch", that the king "encamped at Badbury Rings, near Wimborne" in which Æthelwold had barricaded himself but that the latter later escaped "to the host in Northumbria"[1551]. Florence of Worcester records that "regis Eadwardi patruelis, clito Æthelwoldus" seized "regiam villam Tweoxebeam…Winburnan", that King Eadward assembled his troops "in loco…Baddanbyrig…prope Wiburnan" and forced Æthelwold to flee north where he allied himself with the Danes, and in a later passage his death in battle[1552]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Æthelwold came hither from oversea to Essex with the fleet which was accompanying him" (manuscript A) or "with all the ships he could muster and which had given him allegiance" in 904, and that "he seduced the host in East Anglia…harried across Mercia" in 905, but was killed in battle "between the dikes and the Wissey" with "king Eohric" [identified as the Danish king of East Anglia] killed at the battle of the Holm [902/05][1553]. Stenton suggests that these events should more accurately be dated to 901 and 902[1554]. m ([899]) --- . The name of Æthelwold's wife is not known. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 899 "was the lady arrested whom he [Æthelwold] had abducted without the king's consent…because she had taken the vows of a nun"[1555]. According to Florence of Worcester, Æthelwold married a nun from Wimborne, without King Edward's permission, and was forced to return her to the convent[1556].

5. ÆLFRED (Wantage, Berkshire 849-26 Oct 899, bur Newminster Abbey, Winchester, transferred to Hyde Abbey, Winchester). Asser records the birth in 849 of Alfred, son of King Æthelwulf, at Wantage in Berkshire[1557]. He succeeded his brother in 871 as ALFRED King of Wessex.

- see below.

6. [OSWEALD (-875 or after). "Oswald filius regis" subscribed a charter of King Æthelred I dated 868, listed immediately after "Ælfred filius regis" and before "Wulfthryth regina"[1558]. If he was the son of King Æthelred, he would probably have been named before his uncle Alfred in this charter. It is more likely that Osweald was another son of King Æthelwulf, listed in the document after his older brother Alfred, although it is also possible that he was the son of either of King Æthelred's older brothers, King Æthelbald or King Æthelberht. The root "Os-" in his name suggests a connection with Osburga, the mother of Alfred. "Oswealdus filius regis…" subscribed a charter dated 875 under which Eardwulf granted property to Wighelm[1559]. It is interesting to note that this is not the only example where the son of a previous king continues to be referred to in charters as "filius regis" after the death of his father and succession of his brother[1560]. Presumably Osweald died soon after this date as no later record of him has been found.]

[King Æthelwulf had one illegitimate child by Mistress (1):]

7. [ÆTHELBERHT ([830/35]-[865/66], bur Sherborne Abbey, Dorset). The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle names Æthelberht as king Æthelbald's brother when recording his succession in 860[1561], and as the brother of Æthelred when recording the latter's succession in [865/66][1562]. King Æthelberht's more uncertain relationship with the royal family is deduced from the will of King Alfred, probably dated to [879/88], which refers to the inheritance "which my father King Æthelwulf bequeathed to us three brothers Æthelbald, Æthelred and myself" specifying that "Æthelred and I entrusted our share to our kinsman king Æthelberht on condition that he should return it to us…fully…and he then did so"[1563]. This certainly suggests that Æthelberht could not have been the full brother of Æthelbald, Æthelred and Ælfred. There appear to be four possibilities to explain this unexpected wording and the precise family relationship between King Æthelberht and King Æthelwulf: (1) He was Æthelwulf's illegitimate son by a concubine, although if this is correct it is not clear why Alfred would have used the imprecise word "kinsman" to refer to such a close relation as his half-brother; (2) he was related by blood more remotely, maybe the king's nephew through the male line by birth, but adopted by the king as his son and treated as such at court, in which case "brother" in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle should be interpreted as "adopted brother"; (3) he was the son of Osburga, King Æthelwulf's wife, by an earlier marriage, and so was the uterine half-brother to Kings Æthelbald, Æthelred and Ælfred, although if this is correct it is unclear why he would have been appointed under-king in Kent in 855 (see below); (4) he was the legitimate son of King Æthelwulf by an earlier marriage, and therefore the king's oldest legitimate son, although if this is correct it is unclear why he would have been passed over when his father died in favour of King Æthelbald. None of these alternatives is obviously correct, although cases (1) and (2) appear somewhat more probable than (3), and (4) appears to be the least likely. Whatever the precise nature of Æthelberht's relationship to the family, it appears from King Alfred's will that the succession of Æthelberht as king was irregular in some way. Æthelberht's seniority, and probable position of power during the lifetime of King Æthelwulf, is demonstrated by "Æthelberht rex" subscribing Æthelwulf's charter dated 855 which granted land at Rochester, Kent to Dunn[1564]. From this, it has been concluded that he was appointed under-King in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex around the time King Æthelwulf left for Rome in 855. However, this is puzzling, as it would imply that he was most senior of the potential heirs at the time, no mention being made in the records of any corresponding appointment for Æthelbald, despite the fact that, according to the will of Alfred, he was the oldest legitimate heir. Æthelberht's appointment in these territories must have been withdrawn at some stage, as King Æthelwulf himself governed Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex as part of the land which he allocated to himself under the arrangement for dividing the kingdom with his son Æthelbald after his return to England. A possible explanation for these difficulties is that Æthelberht was the ring-leader of the plot against King Æthelwulf during the latter's absence and therefore was disgraced after the king's return. The elevation of Æthelbald to the under-kingship at the time may therefore have been designed by King Æthelwulf to strengthen Æthelbald's position for eventual succession to the whole kingdom, at the expense of Æthelberht. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that, after the death of Æthelwulf in 858, his "two sons succeeded to the kingdom: Æthelbald to Wessex and Æthelberht to Kent and to Essex and to Surrey and to Sussex"[1565]. This would imply that some rehabilitation had taken place, assuming it is correct that he had been disgraced earlier, or that Æthelberht's position remained strong enough after his father's death to force Æthelbald to share the realm with him. "Æthelbearht rex" granted land in Kent to "Wulflaf minister" by charter dated 858, subscribed by "Ethelmod dux"[1566]. After Æthelbald's death in 860, Æthelberht succeeded to the whole kingdom as ÆTHELBERHT King of Wessex[1567]. If it is correct that Æthelberht was not a full brother of Æthelbald, he presumably displaced the latter's less powerful brothers Æthelred and Alfred, who would have been the rightful successors but who were probably both still minors at the time. "Athelbert rex" granted land at Dinton, Wiltshire to "Osmund minister" by charter dated 860, subscribed only by "Athelred filius regis"[1568]. Danish incursions increased during the reign of Æthelberht, the largest Danish army yet landing in East Anglia in Autumn 865. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that King Æthelberht "reigned five years and his body lies at Sherborne"[1569], in a later passage that "Æthelred brother of Æthelberht" succeeded in 866[1570].]

1. OSFERTH (-after [879/88]). King Alfred, under his will probably dated [879/88], named "my kinsman Osferth" last among his beneficiaries, before naming his wife Ealswith. It is not known how Osferth may have been related to Alfred, although the root "Os-" in his name suggests that the relationship may have been through Alfred's mother Osburga.

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