ETHELRED, or /ETHELRED, IL (c.968 1016). King of the English from 978 to 1016, known as the Unready. He was the son of Edgar and Elfrida. In the beginning of his reign he showed himself by no means slothful or incapable, the surname 'Unready' referring to his lack of retie or counsel. His reign was marked by almost continuous warfare with the Northmen. In 980 the Danes began to plunder the coasts: in 991 they forced Ethelred to pur chase peace. and in 994, aided by Olaf, King of Norway, they laid siege to London. The city was saved, however, through the valor of its inhab itants. The Danes then attacked the southern masts, but they were hindered by the defection of Olaf, who embraced Christianity and became Ethelred's ally. In the last three years of the tenth century the Danes ravaged Kent, Sussex, and Wessex. In 1000 the Anglo-Saxon King in vaded N'orniondy and was lisastroualy (Heeled: but ho made a treaty Wit 11 Duke Richard 11. and married his sister Emma. In the spring lie con eluded a treaty with the Danes; but, an the pre text that they were plotting treachery, he ordered. in 1002, the murder of all the Danes in England on the same day—November 13th. Among the victims was probably Gunhild, sister of Sweyn, King of Denmark. Sweyn was swift in his re
venge, and for four years his army ravaged in England almost at pleasure. In 1007 Ethelred bought peace for a large sum of money. In 1009 he collected a large fleet, but it 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 Sweyn, with the largest fleet he had ever collected, sailed up the Humber and marched toward London: but he met with 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 incompe tency and exactions. London soon acknowledged Sweyn, and Ethelred fled to Normandy. Sweyn died in the spring of 1014, and Ethelred was re called on promising to rule better in the future. In the same year he defeated Canute (q.v.), son of Sweyn, but in 1015 Canute returned from Denmark. ravaged a large territory, and was about to attack London when Ethelred died. Consult Freeman, The Norman Conquest, vol. i. (Oxford, 1870).