Events
- Born
- ABT 968 — England, United Kingdom
- Christened
- England, United Kingdom
- Died
- 23 APR 1016 — London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
- Title
King
Parents
Family group sheet →- FatherEdgar, I943 – 8 JUL 975
- MotherAelfthryth Of DevonAbt 940 – 1000
- ChildUnknownb. Aft 957
- ChildEdward963 – 978
- ChildAethelred, II, of EnglandABT 968 – 23 APR 1016
Family
Family group sheet →Married: 985 — Wessex, England, United Kingdom
- FatherAethelred, II, of EnglandABT 968 – 23 APR 1016
- MotherAelfigifu GunnarssonABT 963 – FEB 1001/02
- ChildEadmund, II, of England989 – 30 NOV 1016
- ChildAelfgifu
- ChildGODGIFU Goda
- ChildEldred, of Englandb. 990
- ChildElfgifu ferch Aethelred, of Englandb. 997
- ChildIngelric, of Englandb. Abt 1006
Family
Family group sheet →Married: 1002
- FatherAethelred, II, of EnglandABT 968 – 23 APR 1016
- MotherEmma Or Edburga Of Normandyb. ABT 982
- ChildAdgina, of England
Notes
- Note: In the face of Danish raids, he was forced to pay huge tributes(Danegeld) to the enemy. He was driven into exile by Sweyn but returned afterhis death. Died during Canutes invasion of England. Burke says he died 1010. His tomb was lost when the old St Paulswas destroyed in the great fire of London. "Ethelred or Aethelred II, the Unready (0968?-1016), king ofEngland, son of Eadgar and Aelfthryth, was born either in 0968or 0969, for he was scarcely seven years old when his father died in 0975. His defilement of the baptismal font is said t o have caused Dunstan to foretell the overthrow of the nation during his reign.....On the death of his father a strong party was in favour of electing him king instead of his brother Eadward. He lived with his mother at Corfe, and Eadward had co me to see him when he was slain there. The child wept bitterly at his brother's death, and it was said that his mother was enraged at his tears, and, not having a scourge at hand, beat him soseverely with some candles that in after life he woul d never have candles carried before him, a story that, foolish as it is,may perhaps imply that he was badly brought up in childhood. He succeeded his brother as king, and was crowned by Dunstan at Kingston on 14 April 978.....Aethelred was good- looking and ofgraceful manners; his 'historical surname,' the Unready, does not imply that he lacked energy or resource, but rede, or counsel. He was by no means deficient in ability, nor was he especially slothful; indeed, throughout his reig n he constantly displayed considerable vigour, but it was generally misdirected,for he was impulsive, passionate, cruel, and apt to lean on favourites, whom he did not choose for any worthy reasons; he had no principles of action, and was guide d by motives of temporary expediency.....It is probable that by this date [986]Aethelred had been some time married to his first wife,Aelfgifu.......Cnut was preparing to lay siege to the city[London] when Aethelred died there on St. George's da y, 23April, 1016. He was buried in St. Paul's. By his first wife,Aelfgifu, he had seven sons, Aethelstan, who died 1016;Ecgberht, who died about 1005; Eadmund, who succeeded him;Eadred; Eadwig, a young man of noble character and great popularity , who was banished by Cnut and was slain by his orderin 1017; Eadgar; and Eadward; and appraently three daughters,Sulfhild, married to Ulfcytel, ealdorman of East Anglia;Eadgyth, married to Eadris Streona; and Aelfgifu, married to Earl Uhtred... ."