What is Athelwulf of Wessex?
{{Infobox Royalty | name=Athelwulf | title=King of Wessex | image=Athelwulf.jpg | caption = An imaginary portrait by an unknown 18th century artist | reign=July, 839 - 856 | birth_date=806<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8720/ethelwulf | title=Æthelwulf (795-858) - Find a Grave Memorial | website=[[Find a Grave]] }}</ref> | birth_place=[[Aachen]] (now part of [[Germany]]) | death_date=13 January 858 | death_place=Stamridge, [[Wessex]] | place of burial=[[Stanbridge Earls]] then the [[Old Minster, Winchester]]. Bones now in [[Winchester Cathedral]] | spouse=Osburga<br>[[Judith, Countess of Flanders|Judith]] a/k/a Judith of the Franks. | issue={{plainlist| *[[Athelstan, King of Kent]] *[[Athelswith, Queen of Mercia]] *[[Athelbald of Wessex]] *[[Athelbert of Wessex]] *[[Athelred of Wessex]] *[[Alfred the Great]]}} | father=[[Egbert of Wessex|Egbert]] | mother=Redburga }} '''Athelwulf''', also spelled '''Æthelwulf''' or '''Ethelwulf''' ({{circa|806}}–858) was a [[Wessex|West Saxon]] [[nobleman]]. He conquered the territories of Kent, Sussex and Essex for his father in 825. That same year he was appointed the king of Kent. In 839 he succeeded his father as [[List of monarchs of Wessex|King of Wessex]]. == Early career == Athelwulf was born {{circa|806}}. He was the oldest son of King [[Egbert of Wessex]] and his [[Frankish]] wife Redburga. He may have been born in Francia (France) while his father was in exile there.<ref name=Ashley316>Mike Ashley, ''The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens'' (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 316</ref> In 824 his father sent him at the head of an army into Kent.<ref name=Stenton231>Frank Stenton, ''Anglo-Saxon England'' (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 231</ref> There Athelwulf drove Baldred, the Mercian puppet king, out of Kent.<ref name=Stenton231/> His father appointed Athelwulf King of Kent which included Essex, Surrey and Sussex. Athelwulf ruled as a sub-king of Wessex.<ref name=Stenton231/> ==King of Wessex== Athelwulf succeeded his father