Williamson, David. Debrett's Kings and Queens of Britain. Topsfield, Mass. : Salem House Publishers, 1986, pg. 219. Has death date as 955, but probably 855. Husband married second wife 856 (Concise dic natl biog. Part 1 beg. till
Osburh or Osburga (died before 856) was the first wife of King Ęthelwulf 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 Ęthelwulf's children, his five sons Ęthelstan, Ęthelbald, Ęthelberht, Ęthelred and Alfred the Great, and his daughter Ęthelswith, wife of King Burgred of Mercia. Osburh presumably died before 856 when her husband married the Carolingian princess Judith.
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 Ęthelwulf'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 (wikipedia.com)