Biography of King Æthelberht of Wessex -865

Paternal Family Tree: Wessex

858 Death of King Æthelwulf

860 Death of King Æthelbald

860 Battle of Winchester

865 Death of King Æthelberht

King Æthelberht of Wessex was born to King Æthelwulf of Wessex and Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex.

In or before 838 [his father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and [his mother] Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Wessex. He the son of Egbert King Wessex (age 64).

In 839 [his grandfather] Egbert King Wessex (age 66) died. His son [his father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex succeeded King Wessex.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 854. This year the heathen men34 for the first time remained over winter in the Isle of Shepey [Map]. The same year [his father] King Ethelwulf registered a TENTH of his land over all his kingdom for the honour of God and for his own everlasting salvation. The same year also he went to Rome with great pomp, and was resident there a twelvemonth. Then he returned homeward; and Charles, king of the Franks (age 30), gave him his daughter, whose name was Judith (age 10), to be his queen. After this he came to his people, and they were fain to receive him; but about two years after his residence among the Franks he died; and his body lies at Winchester. He reigned eighteen years and a half. And Ethelwulf was the son of Egbert, Egbert of Ealhmund, Ealhmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild; Ingild was the brother of Ina, king of the West-Saxons, who held that kingdom thirty-seven winters, and afterwards went to St. Peter, where he died. And they were the sons of Cenred, Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, Creoda of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithugar, Frithugar of Brond, Brond of Balday, Balday of Woden, Woden of Frithuwald, Frithuwald of Freawine, Freawine of Frithuwualf, Frithuwulf of Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Great, Great of Taetwa, Taetwa of Beaw, Beaw of Sceldwa, Sceldwa of Heremod, Heremod of Itermon, Itermon of Hathra, Hathra of Hwala, Hwala of Bedwig, Bedwig of Sceaf; that is, the son of Noah, who was born in Noah's ark: Laznech, Methusalem, Enoh, Jared, Malalahel, Cainion, Enos, Seth, Adam the first man, and our Father, that is, Christ. Amen. Then two sons of Ethelwulf succeeded to the kingdom; [his brother] Ethelbald to Wessex, and Ethelbert to Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex. Ethelbald reigned five years. [his brother] Alfred (age 5), his third son, Ethelwulf had sent to Rome; and when the pope heard say that he was dead, he consecrated Alfred (age 5) king, and held him under spiritual hands, as his father Ethelwulf had desired, and for which purpose he had sent him thither.

Note 34. i.e. the Danes; or, as they are sometimes called, Northmen, which is a general term including all those numerous tribes that issued at different times from the north of Europe, whether Danes, Norwegians, Sweons, Jutes, or Goths, etc.; who were all in a state of paganism at this time.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 855. Collation. And on his return homewards he took to (wife) the daughter of Charles, king of the French (age 31), whose name was Judith (age 11), and he came home safe. And then in about two years he died, and his body lies at Winchester: and he reigned eighteen years and a half, and he was the son of Egbert. And then his two sons succeeded to the kingdom; [his brother] Ethelbald to the kingdom of the West-Saxons, and Ethelbert to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and of the East-Saxons, and of Surrey, and of the South-Saxons. And he reigned five years.

In 856 [his father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and Judith Carolingian Queen Consort Wessex (age 12) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Wessex. She the daughter of Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 32) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of Egbert King Wessex.

Death of King Æthelwulf

On 13 Jan 858 [his father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex died. His son [his brother] King Æthelbald of Wessex succeeded King Wessex.

Assers Life of Alfred 860. 860. 19. Æthelbert's Death.48 So Æthelbert governed his kingdom five years in peace and love and honor; and went the way of all flesh, to the great grief of his subjects. He rests interred in honorable wise at Sherborne [Map], by the side of his brother.

Note 48. From the Chronicle under 860.

Assers Life of Alfred 860. 860. 18. Æthelbert's Reign.47 In the year of our Lord's incarnation 860, which was the twelfth of King Alfred's life, [King] [his brother] Æthelbald [died, and] was buried at Sherborne [Map]. His brother Æthelbert, as was right, added Kent, Surrey, and Sussex to his realm. In his days a great army of heathen came from the sea, and attacked and laid waste the city of Winchester. As they were returning laden with booty to their ships, Osric, Ealdorman of Hampshire, with his men, and Ealdorman Æthelwulf, with the men of Berkshire, faced them bravely. Battle was then joined in the town, and the heathen were slain on every side; and finding themselves unable to resist, they took to flight like women, and the Christians held the battle-field.

Note 47. From the Chronicle under 860. As Æthelbert was already in possession of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, it should rather be said that he added Wessex.

Battle of Winchester

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 860. This year died [his brother] King Ethelbald, and his body lies at Sherborn [Map]. Ethelbert his brother then succeeded to the whole kingdom, and held it in good order and great tranquillity. In his days came a large naval force up into the country, and stormed Winchester. But Alderman Osric, with the command of Hampshire, and Alderman Ethelwulf, with the command of Berkshire, fought against the enemy, and putting them to flight, made themselves masters of the field of battle. The said Ethelbert reigned five years, and his body lies at Sherborn [Map].

Death of King Æthelbald

In 860 [his brother] King Æthelbald of Wessex died. His brother King Æthelberht of Wessex succeeded King Wessex.

Death of King Æthelberht

In 865 King Æthelberht of Wessex died. His brother [his brother] King Æthelred of Wessex (age 18) succeeded King Wessex. Wulfthryth Unknown Queen Anglo Saxons by marriage Queen Anglo Saxons.

Royal Ancestors of King Æthelberht of Wessex -865

Kings Wessex: Son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex

Ancestors of King Æthelberht of Wessex -865

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ingild Wessex

Great x 3 Grandfather: Eoppa Wessex

Great x 2 Grandfather: Eafa Wessex

Great x 1 Grandfather: Ealmund King of Kent

GrandFather: Egbert King Wessex

Father: King Æthelwulf of Wessex

King Æthelberht of Wessex

GrandFather: Oslac

Mother: Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex