King Aethelbald of Wessex ¹

  General Notes:

While his father, Æthelwulf, was on pilgrimage to Rome in 855, Æthelbald plotted with
the Bishop of Sherbourne and the ealdorman of Somerset against him. The specific
details of the plot are unknown, but upon his return from Rome, Æthelwulf found his direct
authority limited to the sub-kingdom of Kent, while Æthelbald controlled Wessex.

Æthelwulf died in 858, and full control passed to Æthelbald. Perhaps Æthelbald's
premature power grab was occasioned by impatience, or greed, or lack of confidence in
his father's succession plans. Whatever the case, he did not live long to enjoy it. He died in
860, passing the throne to his brother, Æthelbert, just as Æthelwulf had planned.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Title, 855. ² King of Wessex

Aethelbald married Judith of Flanders, daughter of King Charles II of West Francia (the Bald) and Ermentrude of Orléans. The marriage ended in annulment in 860. (Judith of Flanders was born in 844 and died in 870.)