Æthelred the Unready

Epic card · No. 13479

Æthelred II (c. 968 – 23 April 1016), known as Æthelred the Unready, was King of the English from March 978 to December 1013 and again from February 1014 until his death. The epithet "Unready" or "Unræd" is a pun on his name in Old English, Æðel (noble) and ræd (counsel). He was the son of King Edgar (r. 959–975) and Queen Ælfthryth. Æthelred was born between 966 and 969, and very little is known of his early life. He came to the throne after the assassination by unknown perpetrators of his older half-brother, King Edward the Martyr (r. 975–978). The crime deeply shocked people, but Æthelred was too young to be suspected of involvement. Shortly after his accession, Viking attacks resumed after a generation of peace. Minor raids in the 980s escalated to large attacks from the 990s. As the English were rarely victorious in battle, the king and his advisers resorted to giving the Vikings tribute to leave England. In 1002, Æthelred ordered the St Brice's Day massacre of Danes, which is seen...

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