Born
968
Died
1016
Nationality
English
Events involving Ethelred the Unready (31)
978
ID: 5857
March 18, 978
Edward murdered at Corfe - anti-monastic faction likely involved, Aethelred becomes king, monks lose royal protection
ID: 5857
978
ID: 5864
March 18, 978
Aelfthryth implicated in Edward's murder - Aethelred's mother allegedly orchestrated killing at Corfe Castle to secure throne for her son
ID: 5864
979
ID: 5858
Aethelred initially favors anti-monastic party - restores some secular clergy, reduces monastic privileges
ID: 5858
979
ID: 5865
Aelfthryth withdraws from court - queen mother absent from witness lists, possibly in disgrace or religious retreat
ID: 5865
984
ID: 5866
Aelfthryth returns to prominence - reappears on charters as 'the king's mother', rehabilitation complete
ID: 5866
985
ID: 5860
Aethelred reconciles with Dunstan - performs penance for brother's murder, restores some monastic privileges
ID: 5860
990
ID: 5868
Aelfthryth regularly witnesses charters - appears as chief witness on royal documents, exercises significant influence
ID: 5868
991
ID: 2631
First Danegeld payment - Ethelred pays 10,000 pounds of silver to Vikings after Battle of Maldon defeat
ID: 2631
991
ID: 5804
August 10, 991
Battle of Maldon - Byrhtnoth's heroic defeat by Viking army, triggers England's Danegeld policy
ID: 5804
993
ID: 5869
Aethelred's charter of repentance - acknowledges wrongdoing against monasteries, restores seized lands, admits 'youthful ignorance'
ID: 5869
994
ID: 5805
Second Danegeld payment - 16,000 pounds paid to Olaf Tryggvason and Sweyn Forkbeard after siege of London
ID: 5805
995
ID: 5870
Aethelred becomes generous monastic patron - grants extensive privileges to Abingdon Abbey, reverses anti-monastic stance
ID: 5870
997
ID: 5871
Aethelred's law codes protect monasteries - establishes penalties for violating monastic sanctuary and property
ID: 5871
1001
ID: 5872
Aethelred promotes Edward's cult - officially recognizes murdered half-brother as martyr, encourages veneration
ID: 5872
1002
ID: 5806
Third Danegeld payment - 24,000 pounds of silver paid to Viking army
ID: 5806
1002
ID: 5876
April 1002
Aethelred marries Emma of Normandy - alliance to prevent Vikings using Norman ports, Emma becomes queen, takes English name Aelfgifu
ID: 5876
1002
ID: 2565
November 13, 1002
St. Brice's Day Massacre - Ethelred orders killing of all Danes in England, Sweyn Forkbeard's sister killed
ID: 2565
1005
ID: 5874
Monastic chroniclers remain critical - despite Aethelred's repentance, monks never forgive early anti-monastic stance
ID: 5874
1005
ID: 5877
Emma bears Aethelred sons Edward and Alfred - future Edward the Confessor born, creating succession complications
ID: 5877
1007
ID: 5807
Fourth Danegeld payment - 36,000 pounds paid, massive tax burden on England
ID: 5807
1009
ID: 5875
Aethelred links Viking raids to sins - royal charter suggests invasions are divine punishment for crimes against Church
ID: 5875
1012
ID: 2637
Massive Danegeld of 48,000 pounds paid - largest payment ever to Vikings, Thorkell the High enters English service
ID: 2637
1012
ID: 5811
Aethelred establishes heregeld tax system - permanent annual tax to maintain standing army of Danish mercenaries
ID: 5811
1012
ID: 5810
April 19, 1012
Murder of Archbishop Aelfheah at Greenwich - killed by drunken Vikings, causes Thorkell to defect to Aethelred
ID: 5810
1013
ID: 2566
Sweyn Forkbeard conquers England - Ethelred flees to Normandy, Sweyn recognized as king
ID: 2566
1013
ID: 5812
Thorkell defends London against Sweyn - Viking mercenary fights for England against Danish invasion
ID: 5812
1013
ID: 5863
Secular bishops dominate under late Aethelred - monastic reform effectively reversed, married clergy common again
ID: 5863
1013
ID: 5878
Emma flees to Normandy with children - escapes Sweyn's invasion, seeks refuge with brother Duke Richard II
ID: 5878
1014
ID: 5879
Emma returns as queen - accompanies Aethelred back to England after Sweyn's death
ID: 5879
1014
ID: 2567
February 3, 1014
Death of Sweyn Forkbeard - dies after five weeks as king, Ethelred returns from exile
ID: 2567
1016
ID: 5880
April 23, 1016
Death of Aethelred leaves Emma vulnerable - widow with young sons, Edmund Ironside becomes king briefly
ID: 5880