(a) an Ealdorman of Wiltshire, or
(b) an Archbishop of Canterbury who was consecrated in 919 and who died on 8 January, 923.
There is, unfortunately, no conclusive evidence to support either theory. It is possible that Ethelhelm died in 898.
ETHELRED I
He was killed on 23 April (after Easter), 871, at the Battle of Merton, and was buried at Wimborne Minster, Dorset, although some less reliable sources give his place of burial as Sherborne Abbey, Dorset. After his death, he was popularly reputed a saint.
He was succeeded by his brother Alfred.
King Alfred
FATHER: Ethelwulf, King of Wessex ( see here).
MOTHER: Osburga ( see here, under King Ethelwulf ).
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under King Ethelwulf ).
ALFRED
Known as the Great, he was born in 846/9 at Wantage, Dorset. He succeeded his brother Ethelred I as King of Wessex and Danish Mercia on 23 April, 871, and was perhaps crowned at Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, although this is mere supposition, as there is no evidence for it.
Alfred married, in 868/9, at Winchester:
Ethelswitha
She was the daughter of Ethelred Mucel, Ealdorman of the Gainas (to be identified with Gainsborough, Lincolnshire?), by Edburga, a Princess of the Royal House of Mercia, perhaps the daughter of Coenwulf, King of Mercia, by his wife Elfrida.
After the death of King Alfred, Ethelswitha turned to religion, and became a nun at St Marys Abbey, Winchester, in c. 901. She died in Winchester on 5 or 8 December, 905, and was buried there in St Marys Abbey; her remains were later removed to Winchester Cathedral. After her death, she was popularly reputed a saint.
Issue of marriage:
1 Ethelfleda
Born c .869, she married Ethelred, Ealdorman of Mercia ( d .911), in 886/7 (certainly by the end of 889), and had issue:
1 Elfwynn (904?after 919).
Ethelfleda was recognised as Lady of the Mercians in 911, after the death of her husband. She died on 12 June, 918, at Tamworth, Staffordshire, and was buried in Gloucester Cathedral.
2 Edmund
No dates are recorded, but he was possibly the eldest son, born around 870, as he was crowned in the lifetime of his father, following a European precedent set by Charlemagne. Asser, King Alfreds biographer, says Edmund died in infancy.
3 King Edward the Elder ( see here).
4 Elfrida
She married Baldwin II, Count of Flanders ( d .918), between 893 and 899, and had issue:
1 Arnulf, Count of Flanders ( d .964), who married Adela of Vermandois, and had issue. One of their descendants was Matilda of Flanders, wife of William I.
2 Adelulf, Count of Boulogne ( d .933).
3 Daughter.
4 Daughter.
Elfrida died on 7 June, 929 (?), in Flanders, and was buried in St Peters Abbey, Ghent.
5 Ethelgiva
She became a nun at Shaftesbury Abbey, Dorset, where she was elected the first Abbess in c. 888. She died and was buried in Shaftesbury Abbey in c. 896.
6 Ethelweard
Born c .880.
Very little is known of his life. He died on 16 (?) or 26 October, 920/22.
Ethelweard married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
( i) Elfwine
He was killed at the Battle of Brunanburgh in 937, and was buried in Malmesbury Abbey, Wilts.
( ii) Ethelwine
He was killed at the Battle of Brunanburgh in 937, and was buried in Malmesbury Abbey, Wilts.
( iii) Thurcytel
Born c .907, he became a monk at his own foundation at Croyland Abbey, Lincs., in c .946, and was later elected Abbot there. He died on 12 July, 975, at Croyland Abbey, and was buried there.
KING ALFRED
He died on 25, 26 or 28 October, 899, and was buried in Newminster Abbey, Winchester. His remains were later removed to Hyde Abbey, Winchester, which was destroyed during the Reformation. The present site of his grave is unknown. His bones may possibly lie in one of the mortuary chests in Winchester Cathedral.
He was succeeded by his son Edward.
King Edward the Elder
FATHER: King Alfred ( see here).
MOTHER: Ethelswitha ( see here, under King Alfred ).
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under King Alfred ).
KING EDWARD
Known as the Elder, he was born in c. 871/2. He succeeded his father as King of Wessex on 25, 26 or 28 October, 899, and was crowned on 31 May or 8 June, 900, at Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
Edward married firstly(although no record exists of the date or the place):
Egwina
She is described as a noblewoman, although her origins are unknown. William of Malmesbury, writing in the 12th century, states that her children were illegitimate, thereby suggesting that her marriage to Edward was uncanonical, but this is unlikely in view of the fact that her son succeeded Edward as undisputed king. She died in c .901/2.
Issue of marriage:
1 King Athelstan ( see here).
2 Alfred
No dates are recorded, and very little is known about him. He may have died young.
3 St Edith
She married Sihtric Caoch, King of Northumbria ( d .927), on 30 January, 925/6, at Tamworth, Staffordshire. After her widowhood, she became a nun at Polesworth Abbey, Warwickshire, in 927. That same year, she was transferred to Tamworth Abbey, Gloucestershire, where she was immediately elected Abbess. She died in c .927. After her death, she was canonised, and her Feast Day is 15 July.