Æthelstan of Wessex
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Æthelstan (floruit 839–851x855) was the eldest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex. He ruled as King of Kent. Æthelweard's chronicle calls him "King of the Dwellers in Kent, of the East Saxons, of the South Saxons and of Surrey".
When Æthelwulf became King of the West Saxons in 839 on the death of his father Egbert 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 at Sandwich. 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 brother Æthelberht 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.)
[edit] 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 1-85264-027-8
