General Notes

Ruled Kent, 855-856, 858-860; Wessex, 20 December 860-865/6.

Athelbert was the second son of ATHELWOLF, and succeeded to the sub-kingdom of Kent (which included Essex and Sussex) in 855, when his father abdicated and ATHELBALD (his elder brother) succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex. It is possible that Athelbert succeeded to the sub-kingdom earlier, whenever their uncle ATHELSTAN died, but there is no record of the date. When Athelwolf returned from Rome in 856, Athelbald refused to concede the kingdom of Wessex, so Athelwolf retired to Kent, where Athelbert seemed more amenable to bow to his father's authority in that land. It was probably no more than a token gesture, as Athelwolf was already in his sixties, and Athelbald now held authority over all of southern England. When Athelbald died in 860 Athelbert succeeded to Wessex and does not seem to have appointed a new sub-king in Kent. During his reign the Danes returned with a vengeance. Sometime soon after his accession a Danish army landed either via the Thames or on the south coast and advanced as far as Winchester before two contingents of Saxons defeated them. Towards the end of his reign a more organized force arrived under the command of Ragnar Lodbrok. His fleet had been harrying the east coast of England, particularly Northumbria, and in the winter of 864/5 they stayed in Thanet. Although the Saxons made a pact with them, the Danes plundered east Kent, before advancing back up the east coast. Athelbert died towards the end of 865 (or possibly early in 866), aged about thirty-two. He was buried at Sherborne Abbey He had not married and was succeeded by his brother ATHELRED.