| Year | Day/Month | Title |
| Aethelred the Unready (978 - 1016) |
|
979 | Mar |  Athelred becomes king
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| | Athelred became king after the assassination of Edward the Martyr. |
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| Mar 18 | Murder of Edward the Martyr
|
| | Edward, the King of the English was assassinated under orders from his step-mother, who wanted her son Athelred to become king. |
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980 | | First Viking attacks
|
| | With Athelred on the throne for a short time and possibly showing some weakness in his ability to rule the Vikings started their attacks. Consentrating on the south coast the raids were limited and the affect to the country as a whole was small. |
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991 | | Vikings attack the wealthy south-east
|
| | Under the leadership of Olaf Trygvasson the Vikings attacked the wealthy south-east coast of England and took as much riches as they could carry. |
|
| | Vikings paid to leave
|
| | Athelred was advised by Archbishop Sigeric to talk to Olaf and arrange a truce rather than trying to defeat the Vikings in battle. The Vikings accepted a large payoff (Danegeld) and left. |
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994 | | Swein Fork-Beard becomes King of Denmark
|
| | Swein Fork-Beard had overthrone this father King Harold Blue-Tooth Gormsson, King of Denmark in 988. With a huge fleet of 94 ships he arrived in the Thames estutary with Olaf Trygvasson by his side. London put up a good defence and drove the Vikings back so Fork-Beard moved his forces again to attack the south-east coast to plunder what he could find. |
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| Winter | Trygvasson converted to Christianity
|
| | Through the Winter months Athelred provided the Vikings with lodgings and ?16,000 in cash to stop the raids on his land. Athelred was also the sponsor at the baptism of Olaf Trygvasson. Olaf was given instruction from the Bishop of Winchester. |
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1000 | | Athelred attacked Strathclyde and Isle of Man.
|
| | Athelred the Unready attacked Strathclyde and Isle of Man. |
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1002 | | Another Danegeld paid
|
| | Athelred was forced to pay the Danes that were camped on the Isle of Wight another large amount of money for them to leave. |
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| Nov | Athelred marries Emma
|
| | Athelred paid the Vikings a sum of ?24,000 to try and stop further invasions. In an attempt to strengthen his position against the Vikings he married Emma, the daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy. Athelred also ordered the murder of all Danes in England but some escaped to report back. Not surprisingly the Viking attacks started again. |
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| Nov 13 | Massacre of St Brice's day
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| | Athelred ordered the massacre of all Danes living in England because he was fearful of them plotting against him. |
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1008 | | A large fleet is ordered
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| | Athelred ordered England to build a massive fleet of ships. The people of England had to supply armour for the crew as well. It was a huge undertaking but was completed the following year. |
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1011 | | The Vikings murder Aelfheah
|
| | The Vikings captured Canterbury and obtained a payment of ?48,000. In a druken rage the Vikings murdered Aelfheah, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Aelfheah was the man that had baptised Olaf Trygvasson in the Winter of 994. Outraged by the actions of his fellow men Thorkell the Tall defected to the side of Athelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks. |
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1013 | | Swein Fork-Beard and Canute attack England
|
| | Swein Fork-Beard and his son Canute sailed from Denmark to attack England. Again London defended itself and the Vikings moved elsewhere, taking Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria. |
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| Autumn | Emma and Edward leave England
|
| | Forced to leave England by the invasion from Denmark, Emma Athelred's wife, fled to Normandy assisted by the Bishop of Peterborough. Sons Edward (the Confessor) and Alfred followed later along with the Bishop of London. Ethelred was not far behind. |
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1014 | | Athelred goes into exile
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| | Athelred had to abandon his country to Swein and went to Normandy to join his wife Emma and his sons. |
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| Feb 3 | Swein dies
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| | Swein Fork-Beard died. Canute left England not sure of his ability to hold the country but returned a year later. Athelred sent ambassadors to England, including his own son Edward (later the Confessor) to negotiate a possible return. |
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| Canute (1016 - 1035) |
|
1016 | Apr | Canute attempts to take the throne
|
| | Canute advanced on London for a fight with Athelred but Athelred died in the same month. London accepted Edmund Ironside as their ruler. Canute would have to defeat Edmund if he was to become King of England. |
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| Apr | Edmund II (Ironside) becomes King
|
| | Edmund II became king at the death of his father Athelred II in London. London chose prince Edmund as king but it was short lived as the Southampton Witan chose Canute, who then invaded England. |
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1033 | | Robert Assists English and French Kings
|
| | Robert I, Duke of Normandy was an ally of the French King Henry I and also assisted the two English brothers Edward (to become Edward the Confessor) and Alfred, sons of Athelred King of the English who was overthrown by Canute in 1016. Robert may had tried to assist Edward and Albert in their attempts to retake the English throne back from Canute. It may have been for this assistance that Edward was to promise Robert's son William (the Conqueror) the future crown of England. |
