King Aethelbert (860 - 866)
Name: King Aethelbert
Born: c.834
Parents: Aethelwulf and Osburh
Relation to Charles III: 33rd great-granduncle
House of: Wessex
Became King: 860
Crowned: 860 at Kingston-upon-Thames
Children: 2 sons Aldhelm, Aethelweard
Died: 866
Buried at: Sherbourne
Succeeded by: his brother Aethelred
Became king of Wessex on the death of his brother Aethelbald. During his reign the Danes returned and soon after his accession a Danish army landed either via the Thames or on the south coast and advanced as far as Winchester before two contingents of Saxons defeated them. Towards the end of his reign a more organized force arrived under the command of Ragnar Lodbrok. His fleet had been attacking the east coast of England, particularly Northumbria, and in the winter of 864/5 they stayed in Thanet. Although the Saxons made a pact with them, the Danes plundered east Kent, before advancing back up the east coast. Athelbert died in 866
Timeline for King Aethelbert
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 860 | Aethelbert becomes King of Wessex following the death of his brother Aethelbald |
| 860 | Winchester sacked by the Danes |
| 865 | The Viking 'Great Heathen Army' commanded by Halfdan and Ivar the Boneless lands in East Anglia and sweeps across England |
| 866 | Vikings take York (Jorvik) and establish a North British Kingdom |