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, and his daughter Æthelswith, wife of King Burgred of Mercia.

This exhibits high-status ninth-century women's interest in books and their role in educating their children.

[2] Osburh was the daughter of Oslac (who is also only known from Asser's Life), King Æthelwulf's pincerna (cupbearer), an important figure in the royal court and household.

[3] Oslac is described as being of partial Gothic ancestry,[4] and descendant of King Cerdic's Jutish nephews, Stuf and Wihtgar, who conquered and settled the Isle of Wight.