Ethelred Unready. Athelred II, known as the Unready, was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death.
His epithet does not derive from the modern word unready, but rather from the Old English unrad meaning poorly advised; it is a pun on his name, which means well advised. Athelred was the son of King Edgar and Queen Alfthryth.
He came to the throne at about the age of 12, following the assassination of his older half-brother, Edward the Martyr. His brother's murder was carried out by supporters of his own claim to the throne, although he was too young to have any personal involvement.
The chief problem of Athelred's reign was conflict with the Danes. After several decades of relative peace, Danish raids on English territory began again in earnest in the 980s.
Following the Battle of Maldon in 991, Athelred paid tribute, or Danegeld, to the Danish king. In 1002, Athelred ordered what became known as the St. Brice's Day massacre of Danish settlers. In 1013, King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark invaded England, as a result of which Athelred fled to Normandy in 1013 and was replaced by Sweyn. However, he returned as king for two years after Sweyn's death in 1014. Athelred's 37-year reign was the longest of any Anglo-Saxon king of England, and was only surpassed in the 13th century, by Henry III. Athelred was briefly succeeded by his son, Edmund Ironside, but he died after a f
His epithet does not derive from the modern word unready, but rather from the Old English unrad meaning poorly advised; it is a pun on his name, which means well advised. Athelred was the son of King Edgar and Queen Alfthryth.
He came to the throne at about the age of 12, following the assassination of his older half-brother, Edward the Martyr. His brother's murder was carried out by supporters of his own claim to the throne, although he was too young to have any personal involvement.
The chief problem of Athelred's reign was conflict with the Danes. After several decades of relative peace, Danish raids on English territory began again in earnest in the 980s.
Following the Battle of Maldon in 991, Athelred paid tribute, or Danegeld, to the Danish king. In 1002, Athelred ordered what became known as the St. Brice's Day massacre of Danish settlers. In 1013, King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark invaded England, as a result of which Athelred fled to Normandy in 1013 and was replaced by Sweyn. However, he returned as king for two years after Sweyn's death in 1014. Athelred's 37-year reign was the longest of any Anglo-Saxon king of England, and was only surpassed in the 13th century, by Henry III. Athelred was briefly succeeded by his son, Edmund Ironside, but he died after a f
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