General Notes

Name Suffix:<NSFX> II
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016.  Ethelred II acceded the throne of Englan
d in 978 and was called either Aethelred or Ethelred II th
e Unready, KIng of England. Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) an
d 1014-1016.  In light of repeated Danish raids, he was for
ced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven into exi
le by Sweyn but returned after his death.  Died during Canu
te's invasion of England.  Burke says he died 1010.
REF: British Monarchy Official Website: Ethelred II (reigne
d 978-1016) tried to buy off renewed attacks by the Viking
s with money levied through a tax called the Danegeld. Even
tually, in 1013 Ethelred fled to Normandy when Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returne
d to rule after Sweyn's death in 1014.
Acceded 979-1013 & 1014-1016.
Ethelred 'the Unready'
Edgar's sudden death at the age of 33 led to a succession d
ispute between rival factions supporting his sons Edward an
d Ethelred. The elder son Edward (reigned 975-978) was murd
ered in 978 at Corfe Castle, Dorset, by his seven year ol
d half-brother's supporters. For the rest of Ethelred's rei
gn (reigned 978-1016), his brother became a posthumous rall
ying point for political unrest; a hostile Church transform
ed Edward into a royal martyr. Known as the Un-raed or 'Unr
eady' (meaning no counsel, or that he was unwise), Ethelre
d failed to win or retain the allegiance of many of his sub
jects. In 1002, he ordered the massacre of all Danes in Eng
land to eliminate potential treachery.
Not being an able soldier, Ethelred defended the country ag
ainst increasingly rapacious Viking raids from the 980s onw
ards by diplomatic alliance with the duke of Normandy in 99
1 (he later married the duke's daughter Emma) and by buyin
g off renewed attacks by the Danes with money levied throug
h a tax called the Danegeld. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1
006 was dismissive: 'in spite of it all, the Danish army we
nt about as it pleased'. By 1012, 48,000 pounds of silver w
as being paid in Danegeld to Danes camped in London.
Eventually, in 1013, Ethelred fled to Normandy when king Sw
eyn of Denmark dispossessed him. Ethelred returned to rul
e after Sweyn's death in 1014.
Ethelred's son Edmund set himself up as an independent rule
r in the Danelaw. After Ethelred's death in 1015, Edmund cl
eared southern England of Danish marauders in a series of f
iercely fought and highly mobile fighting, but he lost th
e battle of Ashingdon of 1016 (his Mercian allies deserte
d him) against Sweyn's son Canute, and died in the same yea
r. Before his death, Edmund made an agreement with Canute g
iving Canute territorial concessions, including Wessex. Edm
und was buried at Glastonbury.
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016.  Ethelred II acceded the throne of Englan
d in 978 and was called either Aethelred or Ethelred II th
e Unready, KIng of England. Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) an
d 1014-1016.  In light of repeated Danish raids, he was for
ced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven into exi
le by Sweyn but returned after his death.  Died during Canu
te's invasion of England.  Burke says he died 1010.
REF: British Monarchy Official Website: Ethelred II (reigne
d 978-1016) tried to buy off renewed attacks by the Viking
s with money levied through a tax called the Danegeld. Even
tually, in 1013 Ethelred fled to Normandy when Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returne
d to rule after Sweyn's death in 1014.
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016.  Ethelred II acceded the throne of Englan
d in 978 and was called either Aethelred or Ethelred II th
e Unready, KIng of England. Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) an
d 1014-1016.  In light of repeated Danish raids, he was for
ced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven into exi
le by Sweyn but returned after his death.  Died during Canu
te's invasion of England.  Burke says he died 1010.
REF: British Monarchy