Ethelred of Wessex

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{{Infobox Monarch Basic | name=Ethelred I | title=King of Wessex | image=Image:Athelred.gif | rank=5th | reign=865-871 | date of birth=837 | place of birth=Wessex, England | date of death=871 | place of death=| | place of burial=Wimborne | married=Wulfrida | father=Ethelwulf | mother=Osburga }}

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Life

King Ethelred I (Old English: Æþelræd) (c. 837 – April 23, 871) was a son of Ethelwulf of Wessex. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbert of Wessex, as King of Wessex in about 865. He had two sons, Aethelwald being the elder and Aethelhelm being the younger. Ethelred I was not able to control the increasing Danish raids which devastated England. On January 4, 871 at the Battle of Reading Ethelred suffered a crushing defeat, although he did hand the Danes a Pyrrhic victory. Soon after, however, Ethelred was able to re-form his army in time to win a stunning victory at Ashdown. However, he was killed at the Battle of Merton on April 23, 871 and is buried at Wimborne in Dorset. Following his death, he was popularly regarded as a saint, but never canonised. He was succeeded by his brother, King Alfred the Great.