Something rather odd seems to have been happening in Wessex in the late 7th and early 8th centuries, namely the habit for West Saxon Kings to abdicate and retire to a religious life in Rome.

Caedwalla appears to have started the trend in 688. He abdicated, apparently rather suddenly, at a time when he was more or less Over King of the entire South of England, and went off to Rome to be baptised. Caedwalla's decision may well have been prompted by a serious illness. Certainly he died on the 10th April 689 less than a fortnight after being baptised; a long-term illness is obviously one possible explanation for his abdication.

His successor Ine did the same thing however and so far as is known there is no medical reason to explain his actions. After reigning for over 35 years he abdicated in 724 and likewise took himself off to Rome. It may be that internal unrest was the trigger since two years before his abdication Ine's Queen Aethelburh is reported to have demolished Taunton, a town built by the King himself. This hardly indicates a happy state of affairs domestically.

In the 9th century Alfred's grandfather, Ecgberht, wanted to do the same thing but the disturbed position on the Continent at the time made it too risky to attempt the journey. Alfred's father, Aethelwulf, of course visited Rome himself (possibly with a very young Alfred in tow) but this seems to have been more a State visit than anything else. Aethelwulf returned to Wessex and did not abdicate.

Does anybody know if there were any other Anglo-Saxon Kings who did the same?