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Aethelbert of Wessex

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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Aethelbert of Kent

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King of the West Saxons, succeeded to the sub-kingdom of Kent during the lifetime of his father Æthelwulf, and retained it until the death of his elder brother Æthelbald in 860, when he became sole king of Wessex and Kent, the younger brothers Æthelred and Alfred renouncing their claim. He ruled these kingdoms for five years and died in 865. His reign was marked by two serious attacks on the part of the Danes, who destroyed Winchester in 860, in spite of the resistance of the ealdormen Osric and Æthelwulf with the levies of Hampshire and Berkshire, while in 865 they treacherously ravaged Kent.

See Saxon Chronicle (Earle and Plummer), s.a. 860, 865; King Alfred's Will; W. de G. Birch, Cartul. Saxon. 553.