Ethelred II of England

Ethelred II or Æþelræd Unræd (c. 968 – April 23, 1016), known as the Unready, was a King of England (978 – 1013, and 1014 – 1016).

Conflict with the Danes

England had experienced a long period of peace after the reconquest of the Danelaw in the first half of the 10th Century. However in 991 Ethelred was faced with a Viking fleet larger than any since Guthrum's "Summer Army" a century earlier. This fleet was led by Olaf Trygvasson, a Norwegian with ambitions to reclaim his country from Danish domination. After initial military setbacks including the defeat of his Ealdorman Birhtnoth at the Battle of Maldon, Ethelred was able to come to terms with Olaf, who returned to Norway to gain his kingdom with mixed success. While this arrangement won him some respite, England faced further depredations from Viking raids. Ethelred fought these off, but in many cases followed the practice of earlier kings including Alfred the Great in buying them off by payment of what was to become known as Danegeld.

Related Topics:
Danelaw - 991 - Olaf Trygvasson - Battle of Maldon - Norway - Viking - Alfred the Great - Danegeld

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Ethelred ordered the massacre of the Danes living in England on St Brice's Day (November 13) 1002, in response to which Sweyn Haraldsson started a series of determined campaigns to conquer England. In this he succeeded, but after his victory, he lived for only another five weeks.

Related Topics:
St Brice - November 13 - 1002 - Sweyn Haraldsson

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