he fourth (or third) son of Aethelwulf King of Wessex 839-858. Aethelred became king of Wessex in 865/866 when his elder brother Aethelbert died. Aethelred had to contend with the largest invasion of Danes so far. In 865 Danes landed in East Anglia with a huge force of men. This army of Danes is known as the 'Great Army' and was under the command of King Ivar the 'Boneless' and King Halfdan. East Anglia was under the control of Mercia and no moves were made to force the army out. With his younger brother, Alfred (the Great), Aethelred had to contend with the Danes throughout his reign. In 871 Aethelred died. He left a son, Athelwold, but he was too young to rule. The Saxons chose Alfred as the new King of England. Aethelred (King of Wessex 866-871)
he fourth (or third) son of Aethelwulf King of Wessex 839-858. Aethelred became king of Wessex in 865/866 when his elder brother Aethelbert died. Aethelred had to contend with the largest invasion of Danes so far. In 865 Danes landed in East Anglia with a huge force of men. This army of Danes is known as the 'Great Army' and was under the command of King Ivar the 'Boneless' and King Halfdan. East Anglia was under the control of Mercia and no moves were made to force the army out. With his younger brother, Alfred (the Great), Aethelred had to contend with the Danes throughout his reign. In 871 Aethelred died. He left a son, Athelwold, but he was too young to rule. The Saxons chose Alfred as the new King of England.
Family Tree Details
| Father: | Aethelwulf (King of Wessex 839-858) ( - d.858) |
| Mother: | Osburga |
Aethelred (King of Wessex 866-871) ( - d.871)
+Wulfthryth =Aethelwold ( - d.902)
Timeline
865
A large army of Danes landed in East Anglia led by King Ivar the 'Boneless' and King Halfdan. No attempts were made to get rid of the invaders.
Following the death of his elder brother, Ethelred became the King of Wessex. Alfred (the Great) became his deputy.
866
Ethelread held a Witenagemot (Witan) at the palace of Woodstock.
A large number of Vikings landed in East Anglia and gathered horses and supplies from the surrounding areas in preparation for their assault on Northumbria. Their leaders were Ivar the Boneless, son of Ragnar Lodbrok, and possibly Anlaf (Olaf) Cuaran, the King of Dublin.
The 'Great Army' moved north from their original landing site in East Anglia and into Northumbria. The Army split is two. One section took boats up the coast and sailed into the Humber while the other section went overland.
867
Armies from Northumbria attacked the Danes at York but were defeated. The Danes moved south attacking Nottingham and taking the city. The king of Mercia asked Ethelred and Alfred for assistance and an army from Wessex went to help.
868
Ethelred and Alfred married Mercian noble women whilst assisting the King of Mercia with the Danes on his land. A peaceful settlement was reached with the Danes and a Danegeld was paid for them to leave.
871
Qtr 1
Aethelred and Alfred defeated the Danes at Ashdown.
After fighting the Danes all winter Aethelred died. He was only in his twenties. He was buried at Wimborne and was succeeded by his younger brother Alfred 'the Great'. Aethelred had two sons but they were too young to rule. The younger son Aethelwold would later rebel against against Alfred's son Edward the Elder for the English throne.
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