Ethelred of Wessex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Ethelred I
King of Wessex
Reign 865-871
Born c840
Wessex, England
Died 23 April 871, Wimborne. Dorset
Buried Wimborne
Predecessor Ethelbert of Wessex
Successor Alfred the Great
Consort Wulfrida
Father Ethelwulf
Mother Osburga

King Ethelred I (Old English: Æþelræd) (c. 840 – April 23, 871) was the fourth son of Ethelwulf of Wessex. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbert, as King of Wessex and Kent in 865 [1] [2]. He married Wulfrida and had two sons, Aethelwold being the elder and Aethelhelm being the younger. Ethelred I was not able to control the increasing Danish raids which devastated England. On January 4, 871 at the Battle of Reading, Ethelred suffered a crushing defeat, although he did hand the Danes a Pyrrhic victory. Soon after, however, Ethelred was able to re-form his army in time to win a stunning victory at Ashdown. However, he suffered another defeat on January 22 at the Battle of Basing and was killed at the Battle of Merton on April 23, 871.

Ethelred is buried at Wimborne in Dorset. Following his death, he was popularly regarded as a saint, but never canonised. He was succeeded by his brother, King Alfred the Great. (See House of Wessex family tree.)


[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Ethelred of Wessex
Born: c. 837 Died: 23 April 871
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Ethelbert
King of Wessex
865871
Succeeded by
Alfred the Great
King of Kent
865871
Family information
Egbert of Wessex Ethelwulf of Wessex Ethelred of Wessex
Redburga
Oslac Osburga
unknown
de:Ethelred von Wessex

es:Etelredo I fr:Ethelred de Wessex he:אתלרד הראשון, מלך וסקס ka:ეთელრედ I (უესექსი) it:Ethelred del Wessex la:Ethelredus I (rex Occidentalium Saxonum) lb:Ethelred vu Wessex mr:वेसेक्सचा एथेलरेड nl:Ethelred I no:Ethelred av Wessex pl:Ethelred I ru:Этельред I

Views
Personal tools

Toolbox