Alfred the Great
While Alfred and his father were in Rome and France, 855-856, his older brother Athelstan died. When the king came back, his son Ethelbald was trying to start a civil war. To prevent this from happening Æthelwulf stepped down as king. He gave the rule over Wessex to his son Ethelbald. He took over the rule of Kent, Essex, Sussex and Surrey ruling Wessex as the under-king with his child bride Judith sharing his throne. In 858 king Æthelwulf died.