Ethelwulf, King of England
Created | Updated Apr 10, 2003
(c.795-858)
Son of King Egbert and his frankish wife Raedburh. Made sub-king of Kent, Essex, Sussex and Surrey about 825. Succeeded to the throne of England in839. His sub kingship passed to his Younger brother Athelstan.
Married around 830 Osburga a daughter of Ealdorman Oslac of Hampshire. She bore him four sons who all became King
Ethelbald, Etelbert, Ethelred I,Alfred the Great
their daughter Ethelswith married in 853 to Burhred King of Mercia, soon after this event Osburga died leading to the start of the brother's reigns.
The recently widowed Ethelwulf left the kingdom to his eldest son Ethelbald and went on pilgrimage to Rome taking with him his youngest son Alfred. They were received by Pope Leo IV who confirmed Alfred 1
. Whilst returning they stopped at the court of King Charles the Bald, of the Franks where Ethelwulf took Charles 12 or 13 year old
daughter as his second wife. She was later to marry her step-son Ethelbald.
Ethelwulf returned fit but had died a little over a year later on 13 January 858. He was originally buried at Steyning, Sussex but now lies at Winchester.
