Wulfstan, ealdorman of Wiltshire
Encyclopedia
Wulfstan, ealdorman of Wiltshire or Weohstan, (died 802), a leader of Wessex
who ruled Wiltshire
as Ealdorman
under Cynewulf
and Beorhtric. He was married to Saint Alburga
, daughter of Ealhmund of Kent
, Subregulus of Kent.
Wulfstan founded a college of Secular clergy
at Wilton, Wiltshire
in about 773, but after his death it was transformed by his wife Alburga into the Benedictine
convent Wilton Abbey
.
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
who ruled Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
as Ealdorman
Ealdorman
An ealdorman is the term used for a high-ranking royal official and prior magistrate of an Anglo-Saxon shire or group of shires from about the ninth century to the time of King Cnut...
under Cynewulf
Cynewulf of Wessex
Cynewulf was the King of Wessex from 757 until his death in 786.Cynewulf became king after his predecessor, Sigeberht, was deposed. He may have come to power under the influence of Æthelbald of Mercia, since he was recorded as a witness to a charter of Æthelbald shortly thereafter...
and Beorhtric. He was married to Saint Alburga
Alburga
Æthelburh or Alburga of Wilton , was a member of the royal house of Wessex, abbess of Wilton and a saint.Alburga was the daughter of Ealhmund of Kent, Subregulus of Kent, half-sister of Egbert, King of Wessex, and wife of Wulfstan, ealdorman of Wiltshire .On her husband's death in 802, she turned...
, daughter of Ealhmund of Kent
Ealhmund of Kent
Ealhmund was King of Kent in 784.The only contemporary evidence of him is an abstract of a charter dated in that year, in which Ealhmund granted land to the Abbot of Reculver...
, Subregulus of Kent.
Wulfstan founded a college of Secular clergy
Secular clergy
The term secular clergy refers to deacons and priests who are not monastics or members of a religious order.-Catholic Church:In the Catholic Church, the secular clergy are ministers, such as deacons and priests, who do not belong to a religious order...
at Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
in about 773, but after his death it was transformed by his wife Alburga into the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
convent Wilton Abbey
Wilton Abbey
Wilton Abbey was a Benedictine convent in Wiltshire, England, three miles from Salisbury on the site now occupied by Wilton House. A first foundation was made as a college of secular priests by Wulfstan, Ealdorman of Wiltshire, about 773, but after his death was changed into a convent for twelve...
.