Tenure c. 839 - c. 854 Spouse AEthelwulf Died 855 AD Name Osburh Osburh | Role AEthelwulf's wife Father Oslac | |
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Issue AEthelstan of WessexAEthelswith, Queen of MerciaAEthelbald, King of WessexAEthelbert, King of WessexAEthelred, King of WessexAlfred, King of Wessex House House of Wessex (by marriage) Children Alfred the Great, AEthelred of Wessex, AEthelbald of Wessex, AEthelberht of Wessex, AEthelswith, AEthelstan of Kent Grandchildren Edward the Elder, AEthelflaed, AEthelwold aetheling Great grandchildren AEthelstan, Edmund I, Eadgyth, Eadred Similar People AEthelwulf, Alfred the Great, AEthelred of Wessex, AEthelbald of Wessex, Ealhswith | ||
Osburh or Osburga was the first wife of King Æthelwulf of Wessex and mother of Alfred the Great. Alfred's biographer, Asser, described her as "a most religious woman, noble in character and noble by birth".
Osburh's existence is known only from Asser's Life of King Alfred. She is not named as witness to any charters, nor is her death reported in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. So far as is known, she was the mother of all Æthelwulf's children, his five sons Æthelstan, Æthelbald, Æthelberht, Æthelred and Alfred the Great, and his daughter Æthelswith, wife of King Burgred of Mercia.
She is best known for Asser's story about a book of Saxon songs which she showed to Alfred and his brothers, offering to give the book to whoever could first memorise it, a challenge which Alfred took up and won. This exhibits the interest of high status ninth-century women in books, and their role in educating their children.
Osburh was the daughter of Oslac (who is also only known from Asser's Life), King Æthelwulf's pincerna (butler), an important figure in the royal court and household. Oslac is described as a descendant of King Cerdic's Jutish nephews, Stuf and Wihtgar, who conquered the Isle of Wight. and, by this, is also ascribed Geatish/Gothic ancestry.