Æthelwulf of Northumbria

"What else?"

This article is about King Ælle's brother. You may be looking for King Ecbert's son.

	Warriors don't show their heart until the axe reveals it.
	Warning! This page contains MAJOR spoilers from a recently released or soon-to-be-released product. Caution is advised.

Lord Æthelwulf of Northumbria (meaning "Noble Wolf") is the brother of King Ælle. He is a respected warrior and commander and commands Northumbria's armies in battle in the name of his brother.

Biography[]

Season 1[]

Lord Æthelwulf has just arrived upon being summoned by his brother. King Ælle asked him to lead his forces to battle and meet the Viking warriors whom they were expecting to come and raid their lands again.

A proud man, Æthelwulf would not accept advice from his brother's soldiers. Instead of immediately attacking the strange men, he decides to camp close to the Vikings. In their sleep, the Vikings attack, easily overpowering them and capturing their men. Ragnar uses Æthelwulf to bargain with the king, and although at first it seems like the king wants his brother back enough to agree to Ragnar's terms, Ælle tricks the barbarians in the end, thus sealing his brother's fate. Ælle's gamble fails and the Northumbrian host is crushed at the Battle of the Tyne.

When Ragnar tells Æthelwulf of his brother's doing, he tries to convince Ragnar to let him talk to Ælle, telling Ragnar that he cannot kill him because he is the only one he can bargain with the king. Ragnar proves him wrong when he kills him and delivers his corpse to Northumbria.

Trivia[]

As the king's brother, Æthelwulf would have held the title of Ealdorman (literally means "elder-man"), which was an early Anglo-Saxon equivalent title of earl.
Hlaford is the Anglo-Saxon origin of "Lord."