Wessex Monarch. Born the son of Egberht, King of Wessex and Rudberga. Alternate name spelling is Aethelwulf. He served as Sub-king of Kent, Essex, Sussex and Surrey between 825 and 828. About 830 he married Osburga of Hampshire with whom he had at least seven children. He succeeded to the title of King of Wessex in February 839 upon the death of his father. He continued wars against invading Danes until 851 when an alliance with Mercia secured a victory over the Danish at Aclea. He betrothed his daughter to King Burgred of Mercia in 853 and in 855 made a pilgrimage to Rome. He donated gold chalices and silver candelabras to the clergy at St. Peter's Basilica. Upon his return in 856 he married for a second time to Judith, daughter of Charles I of France and changed the status of English Queens. Before his reign, queens in England did not hold an official title, however, due to his new wife's status as a descendent of Charlemagne she was officially made his queen. Following his return to England, his oldest surviving son, Ethelbald conspired to oppose Ethelwulf's resumption of his throne, the pair, however, reached an understanding in which Ethelbald was given western Wessex, while Ethelwulf kept central and eastern Wessex. He died two years later and was succeeded by Ethelbald. During the English civil war, Parliamentarian soldiers violated his grave and smashed the windows of the cathedral with the bones from the royal graves. With the restoration of the monarchy, the scattered bones were gathered up and placed in the present mortuary chests.
Wessex Monarch. Born the son of Egberht, King of Wessex and Rudberga. Alternate name spelling is Aethelwulf. He served as Sub-king of Kent, Essex, Sussex and Surrey between 825 and 828. About 830 he married Osburga of Hampshire with whom he had at least seven children. He succeeded to the title of King of Wessex in February 839 upon the death of his father. He continued wars against invading Danes until 851 when an alliance with Mercia secured a victory over the Danish at Aclea. He betrothed his daughter to King Burgred of Mercia in 853 and in 855 made a pilgrimage to Rome. He donated gold chalices and silver candelabras to the clergy at St. Peter's Basilica. Upon his return in 856 he married for a second time to Judith, daughter of Charles I of France and changed the status of English Queens. Before his reign, queens in England did not hold an official title, however, due to his new wife's status as a descendent of Charlemagne she was officially made his queen. Following his return to England, his oldest surviving son, Ethelbald conspired to oppose Ethelwulf's resumption of his throne, the pair, however, reached an understanding in which Ethelbald was given western Wessex, while Ethelwulf kept central and eastern Wessex. He died two years later and was succeeded by Ethelbald. During the English civil war, Parliamentarian soldiers violated his grave and smashed the windows of the cathedral with the bones from the royal graves. With the restoration of the monarchy, the scattered bones were gathered up and placed in the present mortuary chests.
Bio by: Iola
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