Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Æthelwold ætheling

Æthelwold ætheling

 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/April 30, 2015 by — Crisco 1492 (talk) 04:14, 5 April 2015 (UTC)



Æthelwold was a son of King Alfred the Great’s older brother, Æthelred, who was King of Wessex from 865 to 871. When he died, the West Saxons were fighting a Danish Viking invasion and his sons were infants, and Alfred became king. In his will (pictured) he favoured his own children over his brother’s. Alfred defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Edington in 878, but when he died in 899 the Vikings still controlled Northumbria and East Anglia. As senior ætheling (prince of the royal dynasty eligible for kingship), Æthelwold had a strong claim to the throne, and he disputed the crown with Alfred's son, Edward the Elder. Æthelwold attempted to raise an army to support his claim, but was unable to get sufficient support to meet Edward in battle and fled to Northumbria, where he was accepted by the Danes as king. In 902 he persuaded the East Anglian Vikings to launch an attack on Edward's territory in Wessex and Mercia. Edward retaliated with a raid on East Anglia, and when he withdrew the men of Kent lingered and met the East Anglian Danes at the Battle of the Holme. The Danes were victorious but suffered heavy losses, including the death of Æthelwold, ending the challenge to Edward's rule.
 * Most recent similar article(s): Æthelred of Mercia 9 February 2015
 * Main editors: Dudley Miles
 * Promoted: 5 September 2014
 * Reasons for nomination: An obscure but fascinating character.
 * Support as nominator. Dudley Miles (talk) 20:40, 24 March 2015 (UTC)
 * Support. This well-written article about an obscure figure from an equally obscure period in English history brings the past to life in an engaging way. Bede735 (talk) 22:45, 26 March 2015 (UTC)