ETHELRED, OT.GE'THELRED, II., TILE UNREADY, 968-1016; King of the Anglo-Sax ons; son of Edgar and Elfrida. Careless of everything save his immediate comfort or whim, he and his kingdom were managed by unworthy favorites. In his time the Danes made many conquests in England, and forced Ethelred to purchase peace, to do which he laid upon his people the oppressive tax known as the "Danegeld," which was enforced at times for nearly 200 years: The Danes ravaged all the country around the river Humber, and in 994, aided by Olaf king of Norway, they laid siege to Lon don, but the city was saved through the valor of its people. The Northmen then attacked the southern coasts, but they were hindered by the defection of Olaf, who embraced Christianity and became Ethelred's ally. In the last three years of the 10th c., the Danes ravaged Kent, Sussex, and Wessex. In 1000 the Anglo-Saxon king, dis regarding the enemy at home, invaded Normandy, where he was disastrously defeated; but he made a treaty, and married Emma, the daughter of the duke of Normandy. In the spring, he concluded a treaty with the Danes; but, on pretense that they were plot ting treachery, the next winter he ordered the murder of all the Danes in England. Among the victims was Gunold, sister of Swend, king of Denmark. Swend was
swift in his revenge, and for four years his army ravaged almost at their pleasure in England. In 1007, Ethelred again bought peace for a large sum of money. In 1009, Ethelred collected the "largest fleet that had been seen in the reign of any king," with the intention of driving the Danes from the sea; but the fleet was almost wholly destroyed by a storm; the Danes renewed their ravages, and the English suffered many defeats, until another peace was purchased for money in 1012. The next year Swend, with the largest fleet he had ever collected, sailed up the Humber and marched towards London; but he met such strong resistance that he gave up the plan of attacking the city, and turned off to Bath, where he was proclaimed king of England by the people, who were weary of Ethelred's incompetency and exactions. London soon acknowledged Swend, and the deposed Anglo-Saxon king fled to Normandy. Swend died in the spring of 1014, and Ethelred was re-called on promising to rule better in the future. In the same year lie defeated Cunt (Canute), son of Swend, but in 1015 Cnut ravaged a large territory, and was about to attack London when Ethelred died.