(7) John Assler described Ethelbald as 'iniquitous and grasping', and his reign as 'two and a half lawless years'. Ethelbald only survived his father by only a little over three years and died on 20th December 860. This caused a great scandal as this was forbidden by the Church. He also married his father's young widow, Judith. (6)Įthelwulf died eleven months after his return from Italy. Ethelbald was concerned that she might 'produce heirs more throne-worthy than he'.

Ethelbald became very angry when he heard that his father had married Judith of Flanders, the daughter of Charles the Bald, the king of Italy. Alfred went with him and he left two of his sons, Ethelbald and Ethelberht to rule Wessex while he was away. In 856 Ethelwulf visited Rome for the first time. (4) A doctor who has studied his symptoms has suggested that he was suffering from tuberculosis or/and Crohn's disease. According to John Assler he had these problems 'from the first flowering of his youth' and it was feared that he would die before reaching adulthood.

He wrote to Ethelwulf that he had arrived safely: 'We have now graciously received your son Alfred, whom you were anxious to send at this time to the thresholds of the Holy Apostles, and we have decorated him, as a spiritual son, with the dignity of the belt and the vestments of the consulate, as is customary with Roman consuls.' (2)ĭouglas Woodruff points out that this was an experience none of his brothers nor any other English king had in early life, and it is perhaps not fanciful to think that the impression Rome made on him accounted for the quite exceptional devotion to learning as well as to religion that was to mark him in his maturity.' (3)Īlfred experienced poor health as a child. (1)Įthelwulf was a very religious man and when his son was four years old he was sent to Rome to meet Pope Leo IV. Alfred's grandfather, King Egbert, was the founder of the Wessex supremacy in 802 and ruled for over 40 years. He had a sister, Ethelswith and three brothers, Ethelbald, Ethelberht and Ethelred, who survived childhood. Alfred, the youngest son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex and Osburh, was born at Wantage, in about 848.

Asser life of alfred