Æthelswith Wessex Queen Consort Mercia 838-888

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 853. This year Burhred, King of Mercia, with his council, besought King Ethelwulf to assist him to subdue North-Wales. He did so; and with an army marched over Mercia into North-Wales, and made all the inhabitants subject to him. The same year King Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred to Rome [aged 4]; and Leo, who was then pope, consecrated him king, and adopted him as his spiritual son. The same year also Elchere with the men of Kent, and Huda with the men of Surrey, fought in the Isle of Thanet [Map] with the heathen army, and soon obtained the victory; but there were many men slain and drowned on either hand, and both the aldermen killed. Burhred, the Mercian king, about this time received in marriage the daughter [aged 15] of Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons.

Assers Life of Alfred 853. 853. 9. Other Events of 853.²⁴ That same year also, Ealdorman Ealhere with the men of Kent, and Huda with the men of Surrey, fought bravely and resolutely against an army of the heathen in the island which is called Tenet [Map]²⁵ in the Saxon tongue, but Ruim in the Welsh language. At first the Christians were victorious. The battle lasted a long time; many fell on both sides, and were drowned in the water; and both the ealdormen were there slain. In the same year also, after Easter, Æthelwulf, King of the West Saxons, gave his daughter [aged 15] to Burgred, King of the Mercians, as his queen, and the marriage was celebrated in princely wise at the royal vill of Chippenham [Map].

Note 24. Based upon the Chronicle.

Note 25. Thanet [Map].

On 13th January 858 King Æthelwulf of Wessex died. His son Æthelbald succeeded King Wessex.

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

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

On 4th January 871 King Æthelred of Wessex [aged 24] and Alfred the Great's [aged 22] army attacked, but were repulsed by, the Viking army at Battle of Reading. Æthelwulf Mercia Earldorman Berkshire [aged 46] was killed.

On 8th January 871 King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex [aged 22] defeated the Viking army led by Halfdan Ragnarsson at the Battle of Ashdown in Berkshire. Bagsecg Viking was killed.

Around 22nd March 871 Halfdan Ragnarsson defeated the Wessex army led by King Æthelred of Wessex [aged 24] and King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex [aged 22] at the Battle of Merton. The location of 'Marton' is not known; suggestions include Marden, Wiltshire in Wiltshire and Winterborne St Martin, Dorset. Bishop Heahmund of Wessex was killed.

On 23rd April 871 King Æthelred of Wessex [aged 24] died possibly as a result of wounds received at the Battle of Merton which took place a month earlier.