General Notes

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[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016.  Ethelred II acceded the throne of England in 978
andwas called either Aethelred or Ethelred II the Unready, KIng of
England.Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) and 1014-1016.  In light of repeated
Danishraids, he was forced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven
intoexile by Sweyn but returned after his death.  Died during
Canute'sinvasion of England.  Burke says he died 1010.
REF: British Monarchy Official Website: Ethelred II (reigned
978-1016)tried to buy off renewed attacks by the Vikings with money
levied througha tax called the Danegeld. Eventually, in 1013 Ethelred
fled to Normandywhen Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returned to rule
afterSweyn'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 dispute
betweenrival factions supporting his sons Edward and Ethelred. The elder
sonEdward (reigned 975-978) was murdered in 978 at Corfe Castle, Dorset,
byhis seven year old half-brother's supporters. For the rest of
Ethelred'sreign (reigned 978-1016), his brother became a posthumous
rallying pointfor political unrest; a hostile Church transformed Edward
into a royalmartyr. Known as the Un-raed or 'Unready' (meaning no
counsel, or that hewas unwise), Ethelred failed to win or retain the
allegiance of many ofhis subjects. In 1002, he ordered the massacre of
all Danes in England toeliminate potential treachery.
Not being an able soldier, Ethelred defended the country
againstincreasingly rapacious Viking raids from the 980s onwards by
diplomaticalliance with the duke of Normandy in 991 (he later married the
duke'sdaughter Emma) and by buying off renewed attacks by the Danes with
moneylevied through a tax called the Danegeld. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
in1006 was dismissive: 'in spite of it all, the Danish army went about
asit pleased'. By 1012, 48,000 pounds of silver was being paid in
Danegeldto Danes camped in London.
Eventually, in 1013, Ethelred fled to Normandy when king Sweyn of
Denmarkdispossessed him. Ethelred returned to rule after Sweyn's death in
1014.
Ethelred's son Edmund set himself up as an independent ruler in
theDanelaw. After Ethelred's death in 1015, Edmund cleared southern
Englandof Danish marauders in a series of fiercely fought and highly
mobilefighting, but he lost the battle of Ashingdon of 1016 (his Mercian
alliesdeserted him) against Sweyn's son Canute, and died in the same
year.Before his death, Edmund made an agreement with Canute giving
Canuteterritorial concessions, including Wessex. Edmund was buried
atGlastonbury.
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016.  Ethelred II acceded the throne of England in 978
andwas called either Aethelred or Ethelred II the Unready, KIng of
England.Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) and 1014-1016.  In light of repeated
Danishraids, he was forced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven
intoexile by Sweyn but returned after his death.  Died during
Canute'sinvasion of England.  Burke says he died 1010.
REF: British Monarchy Official Website: Ethelred II (reigned
978-1016)tried to buy off renewed attacks by the Vikings with money
levied througha tax called the Danegeld. Eventually, in 1013 Ethelred
fled to Normandywhen Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returned to rule
afterSweyn's death in 1014.
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016.  Ethelred II acceded the throne of England in 978
andwas called either Aethelred or Ethelred II the Unready, KIng of
England.Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) and 1014-1016.  In light of repeated
Danishraids, he was forced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven
intoexile by Sweyn but returned after his death.  Died during
Canute'sinvasion of England.  Burke says he died 1010.
REF: British Monarchy Official Website: Ethelred II (reigned
978-1016)tried to buy off re