Aethelwulf of Wessex (1 January 795-13 January 858) was the king of Wessex from 839 to 858, succeeding Egbert of Wessex and preceding Aethelbald of Wessex.
Biography[]
Aethelwulf of Wessex was the son of Egbert of Wessex, and succeeded his father upon his death in 839. Aethelwulf was intensely religious, with little political sense. He defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Acleah, "the greatest slaughter of heathen host ever made" according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. He forced Cyngen ap Cadell, king of Powys, to become his subject. Aethelwulf conducted several battles against invading Danes and pirates, but what would destroy his kingship was internal feud.
When Aethelwulf headed to Rome to make a pilgrimage, his son Aethelbald of Wessex plotted to prevent his father from resuming his kingship when he returned home. He yielded western Wessex to his son while he resumed ruling in eastern Wessex, and he ruled there until his death in 858.
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