General Notes

king of England, succeeded his father, Egbert, in 837, and gave to hisso
n, Athelstan, the sovereignty over Essex, Kent, and Sussex. In the year 8
51 the Danes invaded the kingdom in excessive numbers, and threatened i
ts total subjugation; for though vigorously opposed by Athelstan and other
s, they fixed their winter quarters in Thanet, and the same year took Cant
erbury and London. During these troubles, Ethelwolf, accompanied by Alfre
d, his youngest son, made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he remained a yea
r, and, on his return, found Athelstan dead, and succeeded by his next so
n, Ethelbald, who had entered into a conspiracy with some of the nobl
es to prevent his father from again ascending the throne. To avoid a civ
il war, the king gave up the western division of the kingdom to his son, a
nd soon after, summoning the great council of the kingdom, gave a tenth pa
rt of the land to the church. The meaning and effect of this grant has be
en much discussed, and still remains doubtful. That it formed the foundati
on of the claim of tithes, as once maintained, is no longer held. Died, 85
7.
king of England, succeeded his father, Egbert, in 837, and gave to his so
n, Athelstan, the sovereignty over Essex, Kent, and Sussex. In the year 8
51 the Danes invaded the kingdom in excessive numbers, and threatened i
ts total subjugation; for though vigorously opposed by Athelstan and other
s, they fixed their winter quarters in Thanet, and the same year took Cant
erbury and London. During these troubles, Ethelwolf, accompanied by Alfre
d, his youngest son, made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he remained a yea
r, and, on his return, found Athelstan dead, and succeeded by his next so
n, Ethelbald, who had entered into a conspiracy with some of the nobl
es to prevent his father from again ascending the throne. To avoid a civ
il war, the king gave up the western division of the kingdom to his son, a
nd soon after, summoning the great council of the kingdom, gave a tenth pa
rt of the land to the church. The meaning and effect of this grant has be
en much discussed, and still remains doubtful. That it formed the foundati
on of the claim of tithes, as once maintained, is no longer held. Died, 85
7.