King Aethelred, II, of England

Abt 968 - 1016  (~ 48 years)

• Name	Aethelred
  Title	King
  Suffix	II, of England
  Nickname	The Unready
  Born	Abt 968	England, United Kingdom
  Christened	England, United Kingdom
  Gender	Male
  Died	23 Apr 1016	London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
  Buried	St. Paul's Cathedral, London, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
  Person ID	I5658985068	Master Tree
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2006

  
  

  Father	King of England Edgar, I,   b. 943, England, United Kingdom ,   d. 8 Jul 975, England, United Kingdom  (Age 32 years)
  Mother	Aelfthryth Of Devon,   b. Abt 940, Devonshire, England, United Kingdom ,   d. 1000, England, United Kingdom  (Age ~ 60 years)
  Married	Bef 957
  Family ID	F5259739636	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Queen of Mercia Aelfigifu Gunnarsson,   b. Abt 963, Wessex, England, United Kingdom ,   d. Feb 1001/02, Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom  (Age ~ 39 years)
  Married	985	Wessex, England, United Kingdom
  Children	+ 1. Aelfgifu,   b. England, United Kingdom + 2. King Eadmund, II, of England,   b. 989, Wessex, England, United Kingdom ,   d. 30 Nov 1016, London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom  (Age 27 years)   3. GODGIFU Goda   4. Prince Eldred, of England,   b. 990, Wessex, England, United Kingdom   5. Ingelric, of England,   b. Abt 1006, London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom + 6. Princess Elfgifu ferch Aethelred, of England,   b. 997, Wessex, England, United Kingdom
  Family ID	F5259853822	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Emma Or Edburga Of Normandy,   b. Abt 982, Normandy, France
  Married	1002
  Children	1. Princess Adgina, of England
  Family ID	F5259858628	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - Abt 968 - England, United Kingdom Christened - - England, United Kingdom Married - 985 - Wessex, England, United Kingdom Died - 23 Apr 1016 - London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• 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 to 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 come 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 would 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 reign 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 guided 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 day, 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...."