Généalogie and Heritage

Source: Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: ÆTHELWULF, son of ECGBERHT

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Type	Valeur
Titre	Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: ÆTHELWULF, son of ECGBERHT

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ÆTHELWULF King of Wessex RF01
EDWARD the Elder RF01
EDWARD the Elder, King of the English RF01

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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. Kirby suggests that Æthelwulf could have been born as late as 810, althoughthis 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…andWulfheard his ealdorman to Kent with a great force" where they expelled King Baldred. "Æthelwulfi regis filii mei" was co-grantor of land at Canterbury to "Ciaba clericus" with "Ægberhtus rex occidentalium Saxonum" by charter dated 836. "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. 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. 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. 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.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. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death of King Æthelwulf two years after returning from Rome and his burial at Winchester. [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" She is named as mother of King Alfred by Roger of Hoveden, who also names her father, specifying that he was "pincerna regis." 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. She and her father are named by Roger of Hoveden when he records her marriage to King Æthelwulf. 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. 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. 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. Flodoard names "Balduini comitis et Iudita…Karoli regis filia, Edilvulfo regi Anglorum qui et Edelboldus in matrimonium." [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." 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 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. "Ethelstan/Æthelstan rex" subscribed three charters of King Æthelwulf granting lands in Kent dated 841, 842 and 845. "Edelstan rex Kancie" granted land at Rochester, Kent to "Ealhere princeps", jointly with King Æthelwulf, by charter dated 850. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that he and his ealdorman Ealhere defeated a Danish force at sea off Sandwich [851]. 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, 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 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. 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." 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. 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." The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 860 of King Æthelbald and his burial at Sherborne. 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." The Annales Bertiniani record the marriage of "Iudit reginam" and "Adalboldus filius eius [=Edilvulf regis]" in 858 after the death ....

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. Kirby suggests that Æthelwulf could have been born as late as 810, althoughthis 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…andWulfheard his ealdorman to Kent with a great force" where they expelled King Baldred. "Æthelwulfi regis filii mei" was co-grantor of land at Canterbury to "Ciaba clericus" with "Ægberhtus rex occidentalium Saxonum" by charter dated 836. "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. 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. 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. 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.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. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death of King Æthelwulf two years after returning from Rome and his burial at Winchester.

[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" She is named as mother of King Alfred by Roger of Hoveden, who also names her father, specifying that he was "pincerna regis."

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. She and her father are named by Roger of Hoveden when he records her marriage to King Æthelwulf. 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. 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. 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. Flodoard names "Balduini comitis et Iudita…Karoli regis filia, Edilvulfo regi Anglorum qui et Edelboldus in matrimonium."

[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." 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 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. "Ethelstan/Æthelstan rex" subscribed three charters of King Æthelwulf granting lands in Kent dated 841, 842 and 845. "Edelstan rex Kancie" granted land at Rochester, Kent to "Ealhere princeps", jointly with King Æthelwulf, by charter dated 850. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that he and his ealdorman Ealhere defeated a Danish force at sea off Sandwich [851]. 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, 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 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. 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." 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. 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." The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 860 of King Æthelbald and his burial at Sherborne. 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." The Annales Bertiniani record the marriage of "Iudit reginam" and "Adalboldus filius eius [=Edilvulf regis]" in 858 after the death ....