Birth of Ethelred II the Unready
Birth of Ethelred II the Unready
Role range: 0978-1016
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Ethelred II the Unready Biography and Timeline
Follow Ethelred II the Unready through 57 dated historical records for England.
Ethelred II the Unready, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
57Distinct records
1 of 2Page
968–1010Years on this page
968
978
Assassination of Edward the Martyr
King Edward is murdered by the servants of his stepmother Elfthryth, Queen of England, succeeded by his stepbrother Ethelred the Unready
Role range: 0978-1016
Death of Ethelred II the Unready
Death of Edward the Martyr, Ethelreds stepbrother
Role range: 0978-1016
Succession
Succeeds as King of England, his followers murder his half-brother, Edward the martyr
Role range: 0978-1016
979
Coronation
Crowned by Dunstan at Kingston
Role range: 0978-1016
980
Invasion of England
The Vikings begin a new wave of raids on England
Role range: 0978-1016
981
Invasion of England
Danish raids on Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall begin, and continue for a further seven years
Role range: 0978-1016
982
Invasion of Dorset
Dorset is ravaged
Role range: 0978-1016
Siege of London
London is put to the torch
Role range: 0978-1016
985
Marriage
Marries Elfgiva, daughter of Ealdorman Thored of Northumbria
Role range: 0978-1016
989
Invasion of England
Denmark under King Sweyn begins to invade England
Role range: 0978-1016
991
Peace
Signs a peace Treaty with Duke Richard I of Normandy. England & Normandy agree not to assist the others enemies. Ends hostilities caused by Normandys protection of Viking raiders
Role range: 0978-1016
Battle of Maldon
Vikings are paid the 1st Danegeld after victory at Maldon
Role range: 0978-1016
Danelaw
Vikings are paid the 1st Danegeld after victory at Maldon
Role range: 0978-1016
Battle of Maldon
After defeat at Maldon Ethelred makes a Treaty of peace & mutual assistance with Olaf
Role range: 0978-1016
Danegeld
The first Danegeld, of 10,000, is paid to the Danes in return for their leaving England
Role range: 0978-1016
Danelaw
The first Danegeld, of 10,000, is paid to the Danes in return for their leaving England
Role range: 0978-1016
Invasion of England
The first Danegeld, of 10,000, is paid to the Danes in return for their leaving England. King Sweyn I Forkbeard invades England
Role range: 0978-1016
Peace Treaty
After defeat at Maldon Ethelred makes a Treaty of peace & mutual assistance with Olaf
Role range: 0978-1016
Siege of Ipswich
Norse invasion force sack Ipswich
Role range: 0978-1016
Treaty Negotiations
Ethelred signs a Treaty with Duke Richard I of Normandy, by which each agrees not to aid the others enemies
Role range: 0978-1016
993
Invasion of Northumbria
The Danes raid Northumbria
Role range: 0978-1016
994
Danelaw
The 2nd Danegeld payment is set at œ16,000
Role range: 0978-1016
Siege of London
Ethelred buys the Vikings off for œ16,000
Role range: 0978-1016
997
Danelaw
New law code defines the legal position in Danelaw
Role range: 0978-1016
Reform of Jury System
New law code defines the legal position in Danelaw. Introduces the Scandinavian custom of trial by jury
Role range: 0978-1016
Wantage Code
Ethelred issued the Wantage Code for the Five Boroughs, preserving several Scandinavian legal terms and procedures.
Role range: 0978-1016
1002
Massacre
The Danish revenge for the massacre results in Ethelreds name, "the unready"
Role range: 0978-1016
Marriage
Marries Emma, sister of Richard II the Duke of Normandy, secures his southern flank
Role range: 0978-1016
Massacre
Launches a pogrom against all Danish settlers
Role range: 0978-1016
1004
Siege of Norwich
Sweyn burns Norwich, the renewal of a campaign which ends in Danish rule over England
Role range: 0978-1016
1007
Danegeld Payment
Ethelred’s government paid thirty-six thousand pounds to a Viking army after extensive raids.
Role range: 0978-1016
Danelaw
The 3rd Danegeld payment is set at 36,000 pa. Pays the Danes 40,000 to gain 2 yrs free from the attacks of King Sweyn
Role range: 0978-1016
1008
Reform of Church Governance
Laws to protect the Christians are drafted by Archbishop Wulfstan of York
Role range: 0978-1016
1009
Invasion of England
Vikings take winter quarters on the Thames
Role range: 0978-1016
English Fleet
Builds a new English fleet
Role range: 0978-1016
Invasion of England
Vikings take winter quarters on the Thames. Vikings move on to Isle of Wight, ravage Sussex, Hampshire & Berkshire
Role range: 0978-1016
Invasion of England
Canterbury & East Kent buy off the Vikings
Role range: 0978-1016
1010
Invasion of England
Vikings burn Thetford and Cambridge, Bedford and Tempsford & Northampton
Role range: 0978-1016
Siege of Ipswich
Vikings storm Ipswich
Role range: 0978-1016
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.