King Aethelwulf (Æthelwulf or ‘Noble Wolf’) was the son of Egbert, and King of Wessex from 839-858. Before becoming king, his father had sent him to conquer Kent, Sussex and Essex, and in doing so, he became king of Kent. Then in 839, he succeeded his father as king of Wessex too. Aethelwulf looked for alliances over conquest, and allied with Mercia against the many Viking invasions. A pious and generous man, he decided to give the church one tenth of his lands to receive God's favour, in the face of the attacking pagans. But, after returning from Rome, he would discover his kingdom lost, and reputation tarnished.