• General Notes

  He died on 23 April 1016 at London, England, murdered.
  
  Ethelred was the son of King Edgar and began to reign when only 11 years old. He was a weakling, totally unable to withstand the Danish onslaught that re-started on his accession. He continually attempted to buy off the Danes - Danegeld - as when he lost the Battle of Maldon in 991. In a state of near panic he ordered the slaughter of all Danes whether peaceful settlers or not and this foul deed was put in hand on St. Brices Day 13 Nov 1002. Among the victims was the sister of Sweyn, King of Denmark. The Norsemen were furious and ravaged the country from Cornwall to Kent and from South Wales to East Anglia. By 1013, Sweyn, who was accompanied by his son Canute, was proclaimed King but he died soon afterwards. Ethelred fled to Normandy when Sweyn's rule prevailed and then on Sweyn's death he returned but the English lords placed severe restrictions on him. The Danes led by Canute returned in 1015 and landing at Poole they crossed the Thames at Cricklade.
  
  Children of Æthelred and Ælgifu
      * Æthelstan (?) b. c 986, d. bt 1012 - 1015
      * Eadred (?) b. bt 987 - 1002, d. bt 1012 - 1015
      * Edgar (?) b. bt 987 - 1002, d. bt 1012 - 1015
      * Edmund II 'Ironside', King of England+ b. bt 988 - 993, d. 30 Nov 1016
      * Edward (?) b. bt 988 - 1002, d. b 1004
      * Eadwig (?) b. bt 989 - 1002, d. 1017
      * Ecgberht (?) b. bt 990 - 1002, d. c 1005
      * Eadgyth (?)+ b. bt 991 - 1002
      * Ælfgifu (?)+ b. bt 991 - 1002
      * Wulfhild (?) b. bt 992 - 1002
      * unknown daughter (?) b. bt 993 - 1002
      * unknown daughter2 (?) b. bt 994 - 1002, d. a 1051
  
  Children of Æthelred and Emma de Normandie
      * Saint Edward 'the Confessor', King of England b. bt 1003 - 1005, d. 5 Jan 1066
      * Godgifu (?)+ b. bt 1004 - 1014, d. b 1049
      * Alfred 'Atheling' (?) b. b 1012, d. 5 Feb 1037
  
  

Details of the Unready's family with Aelgifu

Details of the Unready's family with Emma de Normandie