In the year 856 King Aethelwulf of Wessex was returning from a year long pilgrimage to Rome. He had with him his youngest son, Aflred, who would one day be known as ‘the Great’. Aethelwulf was old by the standards of the day - probably in his mid-50s and possibly over 60 - and had been seeking spiritual peace at the end of his life by going to Rome. Whilst he was away, he had left another son, Aethelbald, in charge of Wessex.