Æthelheard of Wessex

Æthelheard (also Æþelheard, Æðelheard, Æðelherd, Adelhardus, Edilhard, Athelardus etc.; † 740 ) was in the years 726-740 King of the Anglo Saxon Kingdom of Wessex.

Life

Family

Æthelheard came from the House of Wessex, but his parents are unknown. He was married to Frithugyth whose origin is unknown. Descendants Æthelheard were not delivered. Later sources mention him as a brother of Æthelburg, the wife of his predecessor, Ine.

His successor Cuthred is generally referred to in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as his relative, while Symeon of Durham, a chronicler of the 12th century, looking at him as a brother.

Rule

In the year 726 thanked King Ine, a blood relative, from and went on a pilgrimage to Rome. Upon his abdication he met seemed to be no more control over his succession, so next Æthelheard also the Aetheling (such as " Prince" ) Oswald as a relative Ines ( he was probably a descendant Ceawlins ) claims asserted. Æthelheard was able to prevail militarily, presumably because he enjoyed the support of King Aethelbald of Mercia. Oswald died in 730 Wessex became Æthelheards currently in a phase of weakness.

In some copies of charters Æthelheards remained. In the year 729 gave away Æthelheard and Regina ( "queen" ) Frithugyth large estates in Pouholt ( Polden Hills, Somerset ) to Abbot Cengisl and Glastonbury Abbey. Aethelbald, king of Mercia, took a 733 thrust into Wessex and conquered parts of Somerset and the King based in Somerton. Æthelheard had to acknowledge its supremacy, and seems to have accompanied him on campaigns against Wales. A certificate issued by Aethelbald of Mercia and Æthelheard 726-737 Charter on a donation at Wacenesfeld ( Watchfield in the Vale of White Horse District ) and Geenge ( Ginge Brook, Berkshire ) to the St Mary's Minster in Abingdon is probably a later forgery.

737 gave Æthelheard Frithugyth and several small pieces of land in Tantun ( Taunton ), Cearn (probably Charmouth, Dorset ) and Wiðiglea ( Withiel Florey, Somerset ) to the Peter and Paul Church in Winchester. Around the year 737 took kings Frithugyth and Forth Here, the Bishop of Sherborne on a pilgrimage to Rome. 739 transferred Æthelheard Bishop Forth Here Sherborne, country in Crediton for the construction of a monastery ( " monasterium " or " minster " ) that against which maintain followed by Canterbury Roman version of Christianity of Wales and Cornwall from spreading in Devon Celtic variant and should spread. This donation was later confirmed by Æthelstan ( 924-939 ).

Æthelheard died around the year 740 and his relative Cuthred was succeeded as king.

Swell

• Anonymous: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, online at Project Gutenberg (English)
• Æthelweard: Chronica
• Symeon of Durham: De Regum Anglorum Gestis / Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum