Fifth in decent from Charlemagne
Return to Adelaide (Alice) OF VERMANDOIS
Reigned 839-856 (abdicated). Under-king of Kent 825-839 and 856-858.
Renown for his military prowess, he reputedly defeated 350 viking ships (851).
He reduced taxation, endowed the Church, made lay lands inheritable, and
provided systems of poor relief.
King of Wessex 839-856
When King Egbert of Wessex, who won the entire of Britain to his control and is sometimes considered the first King of all
England, died in 839, he gave everything to his son 另helwulf, who in turn gave his son Athelstan the smaller satellite kingdoms of
Kent, Essex, Sussex. In 840, he fought the Danes at Charmouth. In 851, 另helwulf and his son 另helbald defeated the Mercians
at Ockley. He gave up the throne to his son in 856 when Athelstan died. Wessex passed to 另helbald, and the satellites went to
另helbert.Return to AEthelwulf OF WESSEX
Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them
at Edington(878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he
allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia nd East Anglia provided
that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy
of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-86
;892-96) and protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications. He took London
(886), this gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.Return to Alfred the Great OF WESSEX