Athelred of Wessex facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Athelred
King of Wessex
Silver penny of Æthelred
Reign	866–871
Born	c.845
Died	871 (aged 26)
Father	Athelwulf
Mother	Osburga

Athelred (born around 845, died around 871) was a powerful King of Wessex. He ruled from 865 to 871. He became king after his brother, Ethelbert, passed away. Athelred's time as king was very challenging. A large group of Viking warriors, known as the "Great Heathen Army", was attacking England. Athelred was one of four sons of King Athelwulf. Unlike his older brothers, he did not rule a smaller part of the kingdom before becoming the main king of Wessex.

Athelred: King of Wessex

Early Life and Family

Athelred was the fourth son of King Athelwulf. His mother was Osburga. She was the daughter of Oslac, who worked for King Athelwulf. While Athelred's father was traveling in Rome and France (from 855 to 856), Athelred's oldest brother, Athelstan, died.

King Athelwulf made a will before he died two years later. In his will, he said that his two oldest sons, Ethelbald and Ethelbert, should rule the kingdom. When Ethelbald died in 860, Ethelbert became the King of Wessex. However, their father's will did not mention Athelred or his younger brother, Alfred, becoming kings. Because of this, Ethelbert decided not to make Athelred the King of Kent. Instead, he brought Kent under the single kingdom of Wessex.

In 865, Vikings attacked Kent. The people of Kent agreed to pay them money to leave. But the Vikings still attacked the eastern part of Kent, even though they had agreed to a peace deal.

Becoming King and Facing Vikings

Athelred probably did not expect to become king. But when his brother Ethelbert died in 866, Athelred took the throne of Wessex. This happened just after the "Great Heathen Army" arrived in East Anglia. For a while, the Vikings were more interested in Northumbria. They took control of York and then moved south into Mercia. They set up their winter camp in Nottingham.

Around this time, Athelred gave his younger brother Alfred a special title: Secundarius. This Latin word means "secondary." It meant that Alfred was officially named as the next person to become king.

Fighting for Wessex

In 868, Burgred, the King of Mercia, asked King Athelred and Alfred for help. The Danes (Vikings) were attacking his kingdom. When the Danes saw the combined English army, they asked for peace. The Vikings then went back to York.

The next year, 871, the large Viking army grew even bigger. They moved towards Reading. King Athelred and his brother Alfred led their army to meet this new danger. In the battle that followed, known as the Battle of Reading, both sides lost many soldiers. Athelred's army was defeated.

Four days later, the two armies met again at the Battle of Ashdown. This time, the West Saxons won a great victory! The Vikings had to retreat back to Reading. Two weeks later, Athelred and Alfred led the West Saxons against the Danes at Basing. Here, the Danes won the battle.

Two months passed without any more fighting. The next battle happened at a place called Merantun. The English were winning this battle for most of the day. But then, the Danes managed to fight back and regain their lost ground.

Athelred's Death

Just after mid-April in 871, King Athelred died. He was buried at Wimborne Minster. His younger brother, Alfred, became the new king after him.

Family Life

We do not know the name of Athelred's wife. He had two sons:

• Aethelheim
• Aethelwald (who died in 904)