| 1. |  Ethelred II The Unready King Of England was born in 968 in Wessex, England (son of Edgar The Peaceful King Of England and Aelfthryth (Elfrida) Of Devon); died on 23 Apr 1016 in London, Middlesex, England. Other Events and Attributes:
- Category: English Royalty - House of Wessex
- Fact 1: Reigned 979-1013 (Deposed) And 1014-1016. House Of Wessex.; Fact 1
- Fact 2: (1002) Ordered Slaughter Of All Danes In South Of England, Incl. Sweyn's Sister.; Fact 2
- Fact 3: Repeated Danish Raids Forced Paymnt Of Huge Tributes (Danegeld).; Fact 3
- Fact 4: Driven Into Exile By Sweyn The Dane (1013) But Returned After His Death (1014).; Fact 4
- Fact 5: Died During Canute's Invasion Of England.; Fact 5
- Fact 6: When He Acceded, Desribed As "Comely, Handsome & Elegant Manners."; Fact 6
- Fact 7: One Of The Worst Kings In English History.; Fact 7
- Fact 8: Buried: St. Paul's, London, Middlesex, England.; Fact 8
Notes:
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Reigned 978-1016. Ethelred II acceded the throne of England in 978 and was called either Aethelred or Ethelred II the Unready, KIng of England. Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) and 1014-1016. In light of repeated Danish raids, he was forced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven into exile by Sweyn but returned after his death. Died during Canute's invasion 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 through a tax called the Danegeld. Eventually, in 1013 Ethelred fled to Normandy when Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returned 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 dispute between rival factions supporting his sons Edward and Ethelred. The elder son Edward (reigned 975-978) was murdered in 978 at Corfe Castle, Dorset, by his seven year old half-brother's supporters. For the rest of Ethelred's reign (reigned 978-1016), his brother became a posthumous rallying point for political unrest; a hostile Church transformed Edward into a royal martyr. Known as the Un-raed or 'Unready' (meaning no counsel, or that he was unwise), Ethelred failed to win or retain the allegiance of many of his subjects. In 1002, he ordered the massacre of all Danes in England to eliminate potential treachery.
Not being an able soldier, Ethelred defended the country against increasingly rapacious Viking raids from the 980s onwards by diplomatic alliance with the duke of Normandy in 991 (he later married the duke's daughter Emma) and by buying off renewed attacks by the Danes with money levied through a tax called the Danegeld. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1006 was dismissive: 'in spite of it all, the Danish army went about as it pleased'. By 1012, 48,000 pounds of silver was being paid in Danegeld to Danes camped in London.
Eventually, in 1013, Ethelred fled to Normandy when king Sweyn of Denmark dispossessed him. Ethelred returned to rule after Sweyn's death in 1014.
Ethelred's son Edmund set himself up as an independent ruler in the Danelaw. After Ethelred's death in 1015, Edmund cleared southern England of Danish marauders in a series of fiercely fought and highly mobile fighting, but he lost the battle of Ashingdon of 1016 (his Mercian allies deserted him) against Sweyn's son Canute, and died in the same year. Before his death, Edmund made an agreement with Canute giving Canute territorial concessions, including Wessex. Edmund was buried at Glastonbury.
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016. Ethelred II acceded the throne of England in 978 and was called either Aethelred or Ethelred II the Unready, KIng of England. Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) and 1014-1016. In light of repeated Danish raids, he was forced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven into exile by Sweyn but returned after his death. Died during Canute's invasion 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 through a tax called the Danegeld. Eventually, in 1013 Ethelred fled to Normandy when Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returned to rule after Sweyn's death in 1014.
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016. Ethelred II acceded the throne of England in 978 and was called either Aethelred or Ethelred II the Unready, KIng of England. Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) and 1014-1016. In light of repeated Danish raids, he was forced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven into exile by Sweyn but returned after his death. Died during Canute's invasion 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 through a tax called the Danegeld. Eventually, in 1013 Ethelred fled to Normandy when Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returned to rule after Sweyn's death in 1014.
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016. Ethelred II acceded the throne of England in 978 and was called either Aethelred or Ethelred II the Unready, KIng of England. Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) and 1014-1016. In light of repeated Danish raids, he was forced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven into exile by Sweyn but returned after his death. Died during Canute's invasion 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 through a tax called the Danegeld. Eventually, in 1013 Ethelred fled to Normandy when Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returned to rule after Sweyn's death in 1014.
[large-G675.FTW]
Reigned 978-1016. Ethelred II acceded the throne of England in 978 and was called either Aethelred or Ethelred II the Unready, KIng of England. Reigned 979-1013 (deposed) and 1014-1016. In light of repeated Danish raids, he was forced to pay huge tributes (Danegeld). He was driven into exile by Sweyn but returned after his death. Died during Canute's invasion 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 through a tax called the Danegeld. Eventually, in 1013 Ethelred fled to Normandy when Sweyn (the
Danish king's son) dispossessed him; and Ethelred returned to rule after Sweyn's death in 1014.
Ethelred married Emma De Normandy in 1002. Emma (daughter of Richard I The Fearless Duke Of Normandy and Gunnor De CrÍpon) was born about 986; died between 6 Mar 1051 and 1052. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- Saint Edward The Confessor King Of England was born about 1004; and died.
- Godgifu (Goda) Of England was born about 1004; died in 1055.
Ethelred married Elfflaed (Elfreda) Of Wessex in 985. Elfflaed (daughter of Thored Gunnarsson Ealdorman Of Deira) was born between 963 and 968 in Of Wessex, England; died in 1002. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- Edmund II Ironsides King Of England was born in 989 in Wessex, England; died on 30 Nov 1016 in Oxford, England Or London, Middlesex, England.
- Elfgifu (Elgiva) Of Wessex was born in 990 in England; and died.
- Unknown Of England
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968 - 1016 (48 years)
Edgar The Peaceful King Of England was born in 943 in Wessex, England (son of I Edmund I The Magnificent King Of England and St. Aelfgifu Of Wessex); died on 8 Jul 975 in Wessex, England. 
I Edmund I The Magnificent King Of England was born in 920 in Wessex, England (son of Edward The Elder King Of England and Eadgifu (Edgiva) Of Kent); died on 26 May 946 in Pocklechurch, England. 
Edward The Elder King Of England was born in 871 in Wessex, England (son of Alfred The Great King Of England and Ealhswith Of The Gaini, Of Mercia); died on 17 Jul 925 in Fardon, Northamptonshire, England. 
