Through the Winter months Aethelred provided the Vikings with lodgings and £16,000 in cash to stop the raids on his land. Aethelred was also the sponsor at the baptism of Olaf Trygvasson. Olaf was given instruction from the Aelfheah Bishop of Winchester.

Aefheah, formerly the bishop of Winchester became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Vikings captured Canterbury and obtained a payment of £48,000. In a drunken 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 Aethelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks.

Alcuin of York died at the monastery of St. Martin's at Tours.

Pope Alexander IV agreed to absolve King Henry III from the Provisions of Oxford.

Urban IV was elected Pope after the death of Pope Alexander IV.

Both Edward the Confessor and Alfred, his younger brother, came to England at different times during this year to try and take back the English throne. Edward's attempt failed. Some time later Alfred landed in England but his army was met by Earl Godwine and was defeated. Alfred was captured and died.

A marriage agreement was arranged between Prince Richard and the daughter of King Louis VII, bringing peace between England and France.

Baldwin, the king of Jerusalem died. He was succeeded by his brother Amalric.

Shortly after becoming Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel was exiled by Richard II because of his support for the lords appellant who had opposed the King's misrule of the country.

Unhappy with his father's marriage to Judith and absence from the country, Ethelbald, Ethelwulf's second son claimed the kingdom of Wessex for himself. When Ethelwulf later died, Ethelbald married Judith, his stepmother.

Upon the death of his elder brother, Ethelbert became the King of Wessex.