Siege of Oxford
Vikings burn Oxford
Role range: 0978-1016
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Ethelred II the Unready Biography and Timeline — Page 2
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
2 of 2Page
1010–1016Years on this page
1010
1011
Capture of Canterbury
While Ethelred II is invading south Wales Canterbury is taken by the Danes. The Archbishop of Canterbury, later St Alphege, is held captive
Role range: 0978-1016
1012
Assassination of Alphege
Archbishop Alphege is killed before the Danes leave England
Role range: 0978-1016
Danelaw
The 4th Danegeld payment is set at œ48,000pa
Role range: 0978-1016
Danelaw
Pays Sweyn œ48,000 to stop Danish raids. Pays Sweyn œ48,000 to cease the Danish raids
Role range: 0978-1016
Death of Ethelred II the Unready
Archbishop Alphege is killed before the Danes leave England
Role range: 0978-1016
Death of Ethelred II the Unready
Alphege is killed before the Danes leave England despite agreement to pay Danegeld
Role range: 0978-1016
1013
Capture of London
London surrenders to Sweyn I
Role range: 0978-1016
Exile of Ethelred II the Unready
Ethelred II the Unready escapes to Normandy
Role range: 0978-1016
Siege of London
London surrenders to Sweyn I
Role range: 0978-1016
Exile of Ethelred II the Unready
Fleesto the Isle of Wight
Role range: 0978-1016
Exile of Ethelred II the Unready
Forced to flee to Normandy after the Viking invasion
Role range: 0978-1016
Invasion of England
Sweyn I invades England after the pogrom against Danish settlers initiated by Ethelred
Role range: 0978-1016
1014
Restoration
Returns from Normandy & restored to the throne by the Council of Witan
Role range: 0978-1016
1015
Invasion of England
Canute captures all of England except for London
Role range: 0978-1016
1016
Burial
Buried in St Pauls chapel "after a life of much hardship & many difficulties"
Role range: 0978-1016
Death of Ethelred II the Unready
Dies while fighting the Viking invaders
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.