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King Ethelred II the Unready

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description King Ethelred II the Unready Overview

Æthelred II, called 'the Unready' (Old English Unræd, a pun on his name, which meant 'noble counsel'), was king of the English from 978 to 1016. His reign was dominated by renewed Danish Viking raids, which he repeatedly attempted to buy off with large tribute payments known as Danegeld. In 1002 he ordered the St Brice's Day massacre of Danes in England, and Danish attacks culminated in Svein Forkbeard's invasion of 1013, when Æthelred fled to Normandy. Restored after Svein's death, he died in April 1016 while resisting the invasion that brought Cnut to power.

help King Ethelred II the Unready FAQ

Who was Æthelred the Unready?

Æthelred II was king of the English from 978 to 1016, with a brief interruption during the Danish conquest. His nickname comes from the Old English Unræd, a pun meaning roughly "without counsel" rather than simply unprepared.

Why did Æthelred pay Danegeld?

Æthelred repeatedly paid large tributes known as Danegeld to Viking armies in an attempt to stop raids. The payments often bought temporary relief but did not end Danish pressure on England.

Who were Æthelred's main enemies?

His reign was dominated by renewed Danish Viking raids and invasions. The Danish king Sweyn Forkbeard eventually conquered England, forcing Æthelred into exile before Æthelred returned after Sweyn's death.

When did Æthelred's reign end?

Æthelred's reign ended in 1016, the year he died during renewed conflict with the Danish forces of Cnut. Cnut then became king of England after the final settlement.

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