Wulfhere (died May 878) was a West Saxon ealdorman who sided with the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878, during which he was killed.
Biography[]
Wulfhere was born in Wessex, a cousin of King Alfred the Great. Wulfhere was one of the most influential ealdormen at Alfred's court, and he took a liking to Uhtred of Bebbanburg upon their first introduction, as he also despised Odda and Alfred. In 878, Alfred sent Wulfhere and Odda to march towards the River Severn to face Ubbe Ragnarrsson as Alfred marched south to face Guthrum, but Wulfhere objected to this strategy, believing that the West Saxons should march as one. Wulfhere later betrayed King Alfred during a Witenagemot session, leaving early to free his Danish hostages (including Ragnar Ragnarsson) and pledge loyalty to Guthrum as his army attacked the royal estate at Chippenham. He went on to fight alongside the Danes at the Battle of Edington, during which he was stabbed in the chest by Leofric of Winchester as the two shield walls clashed.
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