Aethelred II

(c.968-1016) Also known as Aethelraed. King of the English between 978-1016 who paid tribute to the Danes from the 990s onwards. Fled to Normandy in 1013 and was replaced by Sweyn, King of Denmark. Aethelred returned in 1014 after Sweyn died and ruled until his own death in 1016. Named ‘the Unready’ from the Old EnglishOld English The language and vernacular (English) literature of the Anglo-Saxons in England between the fifth and eleventh centuries. word ‘unraed’ meaning poor counsel.