- Æthelstan of Wessex
Æthelstan (
floruit 839–851x855) was the eldest son of KingÆthelwulf of Wessex . He ruled asKing of Kent . Æthelweard's chronicle calls him "King of the Dwellers in Kent, of theEast Saxons , of theSouth Saxons and ofSurrey ".When Æthelwulf became
King of the West Saxons in 839 on the death of his fatherEgbert of Wessex , he appointed Æthelstan to rule in Kent and surrounding former kingdoms. A number of charters issued by Æthelstan survive.The last record of Æthelstan is
circa 851 when, along with Ealdorman Ealhhere, he defeated a Viking fleet and army atSandwich . Ealhhere's death in battle against Vikings is recorded c. 853, Æthelstan is not mentioned. It is presumed that he died some time after the battle in 851 and before his brotherÆthelberht of Wessex became ruler of Kent, c. 858. We could also assume that he died before 856 because if he were still alive when his father died, being the eldest son, he most likely would have inherited the throne of Wessex before his brother Ethelbald.Æthelstan was the only son of Æthelwulf who did not rule Wessex. (See
House of Wessex family tree .)References
* Kirby, D.P., "The Earliest English Kings." London: Unwin Hyman, 1991. ISBN 0-04-445691-3
* Yorke, Barbara, "Kings and Kingdoms in Early Anglo-Saxon England." London: Seaby, 1990. ISBN 1-85264-027-8External links
* [http://eagle.cch.kcl.ac.uk:8080/pase/DisplayPerson.jsp?personKey=2132 Æthelstan] at the
Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England ee also
*
List of monarchs of Kent
*Chronology of Kentish Kings
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.