Æthelred I, King of Wessex: Difference between revisions
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{{Era|Individuals|Ancients}}{{WP-REAL|Æthelred I, King of Wessex}} | {{Era|Individuals|Ancients}}{{WP-REAL|Æthelred I, King of Wessex}} | ||
{{Character Infobox | {{Character Infobox | ||
|name = Æthelred | |name = Æthelred | ||
| Line 6: | Line 5: | ||
|image = ACV BB - Æthelred.jpg | |image = ACV BB - Æthelred.jpg | ||
|birth = 845/848<br>[[Wessex|Kingdom of Wessex]] | |birth = 845/848<br>[[Wessex|Kingdom of Wessex]] | ||
|death = April 871<br>Kingdom of Wessex | |death = April 871 {{c|aged 23–26}}<br>Kingdom of Wessex | ||
|active = | |active = | ||
|species = [[Human]] | |species = [[Human]] | ||
|database = | |database = | ||
|affiliates = [[House of Wessex]] | |affiliates = *[[House of Wessex]] | ||
*[[Order of the Ancients]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Æthelred I''' | '''Æthelred I''' (Old English: ''Æthel-ræd''; 845/848 – 871) was King of [[Wessex]] from 865 until his death. The son of King [[Æthelwulf, King of Wessex|Æthelwulf]], Æthelred also inherited position of the [[Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients|Grand Maegester]] of the [[Order of the Ancients]]. | ||
From his ascension to kingship until his death in 871, Æthelred spent much of his reign repelling the [[Viking]] invasions from [[Scandinavia]], mostly notably the [[Great Heathen Army]]. After his death in 871 | From his ascension to kingship until his death in 871, Æthelred spent much of his reign repelling the [[Vikings|Viking]] invasions from [[Scandinavia]], mostly notably the [[Great Heathen Army]]. After his death in 871, the throne and the position of Grand Maegester were passed to his younger brother [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]].<ref name="ThePoorFellowSoldier">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Poor Fellow-Soldier]]</ref> | ||
==Biography== | |||
On 31 December 870,<ref>{{WP|Battle of Englefield}}</ref> the first Viking attack on the southern kingdom began. With Æthelred leading the charge, the invaders are repelled. The victory for Wessex however, would be short lived.<ref>''[[Echoes of History|Echoes of Valhalla]]'' – Episode 3: Thor's Hammer</ref> | |||
On 4 January 871, Æthelred commanded the forces of Wessex during the [[battle of Reading]] alongside his younger brother Alfred. Defeated after suffering heavy casualties however, Æthelred and Alfred fled together.<ref name="ACVBB 5">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers]]'' – [[The Dust Settles]]</ref> They soon sent a message to King [[Burgred of Mercia]] about their losses to both [[Guthrum]] and Halfdan and plan to gain an advantage at [[Ashdown]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga]]'' – Chapter 12</ref> | |||
Four days later, at the [[Battle of Ashdown]], Æthelred's coat of arms was present, tricking the attacking Vikings into pushing ahead. However, it was a trick by Alfred, who loosed an arrow that killed the Viking leader [[Sten Stensson]]. Æthelred later arrived himself with more Saxon reinforcements forcing the Vikings to flee, leading to a West Saxon victory.<ref name="ACVBB 5" /><ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga'' – Chapter 13</ref> Soon, both Æthelred and Alfred moved south and took charge of [[Great Bedwyn|Bedwyn]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga'' – Chapter 15</ref> However, the Viking army soon attacked their position as Æthelred ordered his men to stay, despite their retreat.<ref name="Chapter 16">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga'' – Chapter 16</ref> | |||
===Injury and death=== | |||
During the [[Battle of Meretun]],<ref name="Database">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Database: Aelfred]]</ref> Æthelred was severely wounded when Guthrum threw a [[spear]] into his stomach.<ref name="Chapter 16"/> Due to his injury, Æthelred's soldiers took him away from the battle as the Saxons retreated. In April, a month after his injury, Æthelred succumbed to his injury and Alfred was soon crowned as King<ref name="Chapter 16"/> and took the mantle of the Order's new Grand Maegester.<ref name="ThePoorFellowSoldier"/> By this time also, news had reached the Danes that Æthelred had died, which added to Guthrum's reputation.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga'' – Chapter 17</ref> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | |||
The battle in which Æthelred sustained his fatal wound varies between ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' and its cross-media publications. Alfred's in-game [[database]] entry states that the wound was from the Battle of Merton, a historically-documented event, while the 2020 novel ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga]]'' places it during the immediately preceding and fictitious Battle of Bedwyn. The reason for this discrepancy has not yet been explained. | |||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
*''[[Echoes of History]]'' {{1stm}} | *''[[Echoes of History]]'' {{1stm}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers]]'' {{1st}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 30: | Line 43: | ||
[[Category:871 deaths]] | [[Category:871 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Individuals]] | [[Category:Individuals]] | ||
[[Category:Anglo- | [[Category:Anglo-Saxons]] | ||
[[Category:Monarchs of Wessex]] | [[Category:Monarchs of Wessex]] | ||
[[Category:Monarchs of Kent]] | [[Category:Monarchs of Kent]] | ||
[[Category:House of Wessex]] | [[Category:House of Wessex]] | ||
[[Category:Order of the Ancients | [[Category:Order of the Ancients]] | ||
[[Category:Grand Maegesters of the Order of the Ancients]] | [[Category:Grand Maegesters of the Order of the Ancients]] | ||
[[Category:Order of the Ancients leaders]] | [[Category:Order of the Ancients leaders]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:21, 28 May 2024
Æthelred I (Old English: Æthel-ræd; 845/848 – 871) was King of Wessex from 865 until his death. The son of King Æthelwulf, Æthelred also inherited position of the Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients.
From his ascension to kingship until his death in 871, Æthelred spent much of his reign repelling the Viking invasions from Scandinavia, mostly notably the Great Heathen Army. After his death in 871, the throne and the position of Grand Maegester were passed to his younger brother Alfred.[1]
Biography[edit | edit source]
On 31 December 870,[2] the first Viking attack on the southern kingdom began. With Æthelred leading the charge, the invaders are repelled. The victory for Wessex however, would be short lived.[3]
On 4 January 871, Æthelred commanded the forces of Wessex during the battle of Reading alongside his younger brother Alfred. Defeated after suffering heavy casualties however, Æthelred and Alfred fled together.[4] They soon sent a message to King Burgred of Mercia about their losses to both Guthrum and Halfdan and plan to gain an advantage at Ashdown[5]
Four days later, at the Battle of Ashdown, Æthelred's coat of arms was present, tricking the attacking Vikings into pushing ahead. However, it was a trick by Alfred, who loosed an arrow that killed the Viking leader Sten Stensson. Æthelred later arrived himself with more Saxon reinforcements forcing the Vikings to flee, leading to a West Saxon victory.[4][6] Soon, both Æthelred and Alfred moved south and took charge of Bedwyn.[7] However, the Viking army soon attacked their position as Æthelred ordered his men to stay, despite their retreat.[8]
Injury and death[edit | edit source]
During the Battle of Meretun,[9] Æthelred was severely wounded when Guthrum threw a spear into his stomach.[8] Due to his injury, Æthelred's soldiers took him away from the battle as the Saxons retreated. In April, a month after his injury, Æthelred succumbed to his injury and Alfred was soon crowned as King[8] and took the mantle of the Order's new Grand Maegester.[1] By this time also, news had reached the Danes that Æthelred had died, which added to Guthrum's reputation.[10]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
The battle in which Æthelred sustained his fatal wound varies between Assassin's Creed: Valhalla and its cross-media publications. Alfred's in-game database entry states that the wound was from the Battle of Merton, a historically-documented event, while the 2020 novel Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga places it during the immediately preceding and fictitious Battle of Bedwyn. The reason for this discrepancy has not yet been explained.
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Echoes of History (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers (first appearance)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Poor Fellow-Soldier
- ↑
Battle of Englefield on Wikipedia
- ↑ Echoes of Valhalla – Episode 3: Thor's Hammer
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers – The Dust Settles
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga – Chapter 12
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga – Chapter 13
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga – Chapter 15
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga – Chapter 16
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Database: Aelfred
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga – Chapter 17
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