Æthelwulf, King of Wessex

 NAME: Æthelwulf (Old English for "Noble Wolf")

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Being the father of Alfred the Great and a successful king of Wessex who resisted the Viking invasions.

BIRTH: Around 806, probably in Wessex.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: He was the son of Ecgberht, King of Wessex, who had unified most of southern England under his rule.

CHILDHOOD: Little is known about his early life, but he may have been educated by the bishop Swithun.

EDUCATION: Æthelwulf was likely literate and learned in Latin, as he wrote a will and a charter in that language. He also had some knowledge of Frankish culture and law, as he married a Frankish princess and adopted some Frankish customs.

CAREER RECORD: Æthelwulf was appointed as the sub-king of Kent, Sussex and Essex by his father in 825, after defeating the Mercians who had ruled those territories. 

He became the king of Wessex in 839, after his father's death. Æthelwulf ruled for 19 years, during which he fought several battles against the Vikings, winning a major victory at Aclea in 851. He also maintained good relations with Mercia, Wales and the Franks, and supported the church and learning.

Æthelwulf made a pilgrimage to Rome (855-856 AD), a rare act for a king, leaving his eldest surviving son Æthelbald to act as King of Wessex in his absence. When Æthelwulf returned to England, Æthelbald refused to surrender the throne, and Æthelwulf agreed to divide the kingdom, taking the east and leaving the west in Æthelbald's hands. 

APPEARANCE: No contemporary description of his appearance survives, but he may have looked like his son Alfred, who was described as having fair hair and a ruddy complexion.

Miniature of King Æthelwulf of Wessex in the Genealogical roll of the kings of England

FASHION: Æthelwulf wore typical Anglo-Saxon clothing, such as tunics, cloaks and leather shoes. He also wore a crown and a sword as symbols of his royal authority.

CHARACTER: Æthelwulf was pious, generous and loyal to his family and allies. He was also courageous and determined in defending his kingdom from the Vikings. He was respected by his contemporaries, both at home and abroad.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: No evidence of his sense of humour survives, but he may have enjoyed some forms of entertainment, such as music, poetry and hunting.

RELATIONSHIPS: Æthelwulf had two wives and six children. His first wife was Osburh, a noblewoman of unknown origin, who bore him five sons (Æthelstan, Æthelbald, Æthelberht, Æthelred and Alfred) and one daughter (Æthelswith). 

His second wife was Judith, the daughter of Charles the Bald, King of the West Franks, whom he married in 856 after returning from a pilgrimage to Rome. Æthelwulf's marriage to Judith caused some controversy, as she was much younger than him and he had to divorce Osburh. 

His eldest son Æthelbald also rebelled against him and refused to give up the throne of Wessex when Æthelwulf returned from Rome.

MONEY AND FAME: Æthelwulf was wealthy and powerful as the king of Wessex and Kent. He also gained fame and prestige by his pilgrimage to Rome, where he was received by Pope Leo IV and Emperor Lothair I. 

Æthelwulf donated generously to the church and the poor, giving a tenth of his personal property as a "decimation" before leaving for Rome.

The historian Janet Nelson describes Æthelwulf as "one of the great underrated among Anglo-Saxons", and complains that she was only allowed 2,500 words for him in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, compared with 15,000 for Edward II and 35,000 for Elizabeth I.

FOOD AND DRINK: Æthelwulf vonsumed a rich diet of meat, fish, bread, and ale, reflecting royal status. He drank ale, mead and wine.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Æthelwulf patronized music and arts in his kingdom, especially in Winchester, where he founded a school for singers. He also appreciated Frankish music and arts, as he brought back some relics and books from Rome.

LITERATURE: Æthelwulf was interested in literature and learning, as he wrote a will and a charter in Latin. He also collected some books from Rome, such as a copy of the Rule of St Benedict. He may have read or listened to some Anglo-Saxon poems, such as Beowulf or The Battle of Maldon.

NATURE: Æthelwulf enjoyed nature and hunting, as he owned several hunting estates in Wessex and Kent. He also admired the natural beauty of Rome and its surroundings.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: His main hobbies were hunting and travelling. He hunted deer, boars and other animals in his forests. 

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Æthelwulf had some knowledge of science and maths, as he used Roman numerals and weights in his will. He also learned about astronomy from the Frankish scholar John Scotus Eriugena , who accompanied him on his second trip to Rome.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Æthelwulf was devoutly Christian and followed the teachings of the Catholic Church. He respected the authority of the Pope and the bishops, and supported the monastic reform of the Benedictine Rule. He also had some interest in philosophy, as he met John Scotus Eriugena, who was a Neoplatonist and a theologian.

SCANDAL: His marriage to Judith caused some scandal, as she was a close relative of his first wife Osburh and he had to divorce her. Some of his subjects also disapproved of his long absence from his kingdom and his lavish gifts to the church. His loss of his western kingdom to his son could be considered a personal and political scandal.

MILITARY RECORD: Æthelwulf was a successful military leader, who defended his kingdom from the Viking invasions. He won several battles against them, most notably at Aclea in 851, where he killed a large number of them. He also allied with Mercia and Wales against the Vikings, and helped Burgred of Mercia to conquer Wales in 853.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Æthelwulf was healthy and fit for most of his life, as he survived several wars and travels. He may have suffered from some illnesses or injuries, but none are recorded in the sources.

HOMES: He had several homes in Wessex and Kent, such as Winchester, Canterbury, Farnham and Steyning. Æthelwulf also stayed in Rome for a year, where he lived in the Lateran Palace.

TRAVEL: Æthelwulf travelled widely in his kingdom and abroad. He visited Kent, Sussex, Essex, Mercia, Wales and East Anglia in England. He also visited Rome twice, in 855 and 856, passing through France and Italy. He met several kings and nobles on his travels, such as Charles the Bald, Lothair I, Louis II and Burgred of Mercia.

DEATH: Æthelwulf died on January 13, 858, probably in Steyning, Sussex. He was buried there, but his body was later moved to Winchester by his son Alfred.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: He has featured in historical documentaries, novels, and video games, but is often overshadowed by his son Alfred. 

ACHIEVEMENTS: Æthelwulf was one of the most successful kings of Wessex, who consolidated and extended the power of his dynasty. He resisted the Viking invasions and maintained good relations with his neighbours. Æthelwulf supported the church and learning in his kingdom and abroad. He was the father of Alfred the Great, who became one of the greatest kings of England.

This biography paints a picture of Æthelwulf as a complex and significant figure in Anglo-Saxon history. While overshadowed by his son's accomplishments, his own reign laid the groundwork for Alfred's success and helped preserve Wessex during a turbulent era.

Remember, much of Æthelwulf's life is shrouded in mystery, and this interpretation is based on available historical sources and some educated guesses.