Ethelred the Unready was the Anglo-Saxon king who ruled the English from 978 to 1016.
Background
Ethelred the Unready was born about 968. He was the son of King Edgar and Queen Ælfthryth. Æthelred's father, King Edgar, had died suddenly in July 975, leaving two young sons behind. At Edgar's death in 975, the realm passed to Ethelred's brother Edward, who was still a child. The nobles of the kingdom formed rival parties around Edward and Ethelred, and the latter's supporters murdered Edward on March 18, 978, making Ethelred king. Edward was soon widely honored as a martyred saint, and devotion to him gave many an excuse to withhold allegiance from his successor.
Career
From the time of Ethelred's accession at the age of 9 or 10, his reign was tragically marred by the treason and revolt of his leading thegns (noblemen). The ensuing disorder was nourished by his own indecisive character and by the renewal of Danish raids on England in 980 after a pause of 25 years. Increasing Danish aggressiveness complemented the increasing English disunity and military ineffectiveness. In 991 Ethelred instituted a policy of buying off Danish raiders with lavish payments of silver. Given the inadequacy of English defenses, it was a strategically sound but psychologically demoralizing decision that mocked the heroic traditions of the Anglo-Saxons. In 1009 an enormous army, sent by King Swein of Denmark, arrived in England to depose Ethelred. Although the English bought the invaders off in 1012, the following year Swein led another invasion. Much of the demoralized English nation submitted to his rule. Ethelred resisted from London for some months, then finally fled to Normandy. After Swein died suddenly in February 1014, Ethelred was reinstated as king. His rule was challenged by Cnut, Swein's younger son, and apparently by his own son Edmund Ironsides. Cnut's first campaign misfired, and he retreated to Denmark, only to return to England with a new army in 1015. Ethelred and Edmund joined forces against the invader early in 1016 at London. But on April 23, 1016, Ethelred died. Edmund succeeded him and struggled on for a few months. However, by the end of the year Edmund too was dead, and Cnut became the ruler of England.
Æthelred was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral, London. The tomb and his monument were destroyed along with the cathedral in the Great Fire of London in 1666. A modern monument in the crypt lists his among the important graves lost.
Achievements
He was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death. The chief problem of Æthelred's reign was conflict with the Danes. Æthelred'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.
Personality
His epithet does not derive from the modern word "unready", but rather from the Old English unræd (meaning "poorly advised"); it is a pun on his name, which means "well advised".
His appearance and character was described as: "[A] youth of graceful manners, handsome countenance and fine person. .. " as well as "[A] tall, handsome man, elegant in manners, beautiful in countenance and interesting in his deportment. "
Connections
Æthelred married first Ælfgifu, daughter of Thored, earl of Northumbria, in about 985. Their known children are: Æthelstan Ætheling, Ecgberht Ætheling, Edmund Ironside, Eadred Ætheling, Eadwig Ætheling, Edgar Ætheling, Eadgyth or Edith, Ælfgifu, Wulfhilda, Abbess of Wherwell Abbey. In 1002 Æthelred married Emma of Normandy, sister of Richard II, Duke of Normandy. Their children were: Edward the Confessor, Ælfred Ætheling, Goda of England
