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Æthelwulf, King of Wessex
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== Viking threat == Viking raids increased in the early 840s on both sides of the [[English Channel]], and in 843 Æthelwulf was defeated by the companies of 35 Danish ships at Carhampton in Somerset. In 850 sub-king Æthelstan and Ealdorman [[Ealhhere]] of Kent won a naval victory over a large Viking fleet off [[Sandwich, Kent|Sandwich]] in Kent, capturing nine ships and driving off the rest. Æthelwulf granted Ealhhere a large estate in Kent, but Æthelstan is not heard of again and probably died soon afterwards. The following year the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' records five different attacks on southern England. A Danish fleet of 350 Viking ships took London and Canterbury, and when King Berhtwulf of Mercia went to their relief he was defeated. The Vikings then moved on to Surrey, where they were defeated by Æthelwulf and his son Æthelbald at the [[Battle of Aclea]]. According to the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' the West Saxon levies, "there made the greatest slaughter of a heathen that we have heard tell of up to the present day". The ''Chronicle'' frequently reported victories during Æthelwulf's reign won by levies led by ealdormen, unlike the 870s when a royal command was emphasised, reflecting a more consensual style of leadership in the earlier period.{{sfnm|1a1=Nelson|1y=2004a|2a1=Story|2y=2003|2p=227}} In 850, a Danish army wintered on [[Isle of Thanet|Thanet]], and in 853, ealdormen Ealhhere of Kent and Huda of Surrey were killed in a battle against the Vikings, also on Thanet. In 855, Danish Vikings stayed over the winter on Sheppey, before carrying on their pillaging of eastern England.{{sfnm|1a1=Stenton|1y=1971|1p=243|2a1=Abels|2y=1998|2p=88}} However, during Æthelwulf's reign, Viking attacks were contained and did not present a major threat.{{sfn|Ryan|2013|p=258}}
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