Æthelwold of Wessex
Æthelwold (c. 868–902) was the elder son of King Æthelred of Wessex. Æthelwold was too young to be king when his father died in 871, and Æthelred was succeeded by his younger brother, Alfred the Great.
As the senior Ætheling (prince of the royal dynasty who was eligible for kingship), Æthelwold had a strong claim to succed Alfred, and in a charter of the 890s he signed above Alfred's eldest son, Edward the Elder, implying that he ranked above him. However, Alfred naturally favoured his own son, leaving the bulk of his property to Edward in his will, and giving him opportunities for command in battle once he was old enough.1
On Alfred's death in 899, Æthelwold tried to seize the throne but his bid for power was defeated by Edward. Æthelwold sought refuge with the Danes of Northumbria, who, according to one version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, accepted him as king.2 In 901 he sailed to Essex, and in 902 he persuaded the Danes of East Anglia to wage war against Edward, joining them in a raid on Mercia and Wessex. Edward retaliated by ravaging the southern Danelaw, but when he withdrew the men of Kent refused to obey the order to retreat. They met the Danes at the Battle of the Holme, and although the Danes won they suffered the heavier losses, including Æthelwold.3
In the view of James Campbell, Æthelwold might easily have succeeded: "Had it not been for the chances of battle and war Æthelwold might very well have been regarded as one of the greatest figures in our island's story."4
His younger brother Æthelhelm chose not to challenge Edward for the throne and continued to reside in Wessex, where he may have become Ealdorman of Wiltshire.
References
- History of Anglo Saxon England by F. Stenton
- History of the Anglo Saxons by F. Palgrave
Footnotes
- ^ Barbara Yorke, 'Edward as Ætheling', N. J. Higham & D. H. Hill eds, Edward the Elder 899-924, Routledge, 2001, pp. 29-31, 37.
- ^ James Campbell, 'What is not known about the reign of Edward the Elder', Higham & Hill eds, p. 21
- ^ Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, Oxford University Press, 1971, pp. 321-2.
- ^ Campbell, op. cit.
See also
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| English royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Eohric |
King of East Anglia ? 902 |
Succeeded by Guthrum II |
| Preceded by ? |
King of Northumbria ? 899– 902 |
Succeeded by Eowils and Halfdan |
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