King Aethelred was the fourth son of King Aethelwulf and the grandson of King Egbert. He was also the brother of King Aethelbald and King Aethelbert.
His reign began and ended with a war against the Vikings. He and his brother Alfred defended their kingdom against the raiding Danes who sought to conquer all of England.
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King Aethelred Facts: Life and Reign
- King Aethelred was the fourth son of King Aethelwulf and was born around 847.
- He joined his younger brother Alfred on a pilgrimage to Rome in 847.
- He appears as a witness to one of his father's charters in 854.
- He most likely traveled with his father and younger brother to Rome during Aethelwulf's pilgrimage.
- After Aethelwulf's death, the kingdom was split. One half was ruled by Aethelbald and the other by Aethelbert. After Aethelbald's death, the kingdom was united under Aethelbert.
- Aethelred probably served as an underking around 862 when he issued charters in his own name as King of the West Saxons.
King Aethelred Facts: Ascension
- Aethelred married Wulfthryth, who was the daughter of Ealdorman Wulfhere of Wiltshire. The couple had two sons: Aethelhelm and Aethelwold.
- In 865, Aethelred inherited the throne after his brother died.
- Shortly after his ascension, the Viking conquered York and presented a serious from the North.
- In 868, Aethelred and Alfred assembled an army to counter the Viking's presence in the north.
- However, the leader in the north, Burghred, purchased peace rather than fight the Vikings on the battlefield. The peace did not last for long, as the Vikings returned in 874. They defeated and took control of the north and set their sites on all of Britain.
- Around the time, King Aethelred established mints that established a valid currency in both Wessex and Mercia.
King Aethelred Facts: Viking Attacks
- King Aethelred and his brother Alfred dealt with repeated attacks from the Vikings.
- They lost the battle of Reading in 871 and were successful, thanks to Alfred, in the battle of Uffington.
- The Vikings regrouped after their loss and found success at Basing and Mereton.
- King Aethelred received mortal wounds during a battle and died in April 871.
- His death came at a terrible time as the Vikings were pushing forward and threatening all of England. However, it would thrust Alfred into the throne, which would prove to be beneficial.