Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes Quiz

Answer: Ælthryth

Ælthryth or Elfrida was queen consort of King Edgar, who had died in 975. Ælthryth believed that her son Æthelred (only 10 years old in 978), had a better claim to the throne than her step-son Edward, as both Æthelred's parents had been crowned and consecrated.

It is alleged that she plotted the murder, and according to Henry of Huntingdon, actually did the deed herself ... He states that Edward "was treasonably slain by his own family ... it is reported that his stepmother, that is the mother of King Æthelred, stabbed him with a dagger while she was in the act of offering him a cup to drink.". Æthelred was consecrated king a fortnight after Easter at Kingston.

However, later in the year " a cloud red as blood was seen frequently with the appearance of fire usually about midnight ... and at the first streak of dawn it vanished".

The omens were not good for Æthelred.

Answer: Olaf Tryggvasson

Olaf Tryggvasson led a fleet of 93 ships which ravaged the East coast from Sandwich to Ipswich. He then turned back South to the river Blackwater near Maldon in Essex, where he defeated Byrhtnoth of Essex, after which he received 10,000 pounds of silver, and again in 994 this time accompanied by Swein Forkbeard, he attacked London, Essex, Kent, Hampshire and Sussex and received 16,000 pounds in silver.

In 995 he returned to Norway where he sized power and became King. In 1000 Olaf was ambushed by a fleet led by Swein Forkbeard and defeated at the battle of Svolder, Olaf is said to have thrown himself overboard when his ship the 'Long Serpent' was overwhelmed and he saw that all was lost.

Answer: Emma

Emma, sister of Richard II Duke of Normandy married Æthelred in 1002. Æthelred and Emma had three children, one of them the future king Edward the Confessor. On Æthelred's death she married king Cnut, their son Harthacanute ruled England for two years 1040-1042. Through his great-aunt, William Duke of Normandy would have one avenue to his claim of the crown of England.

Answer: Swein Forkbeard

Swein Forkbeard was the son of Harald Bluetooth. Swein had raided in England in the early 990's but in 1003 he attacked England allegedly in response to the St Brice's Day massacre, in which his sister Gunhild was killed. Wessex and East Anglia bore the brunt of his attack, so much damage was done that a famine occurred and in 1005 the Danes were forced to return to Denmark. Further attacks were carried out by his Jarls, 1006-07 and 1009-12. Swein came back to England with his army in 1013 and eventually conquered England forcing king Æthelred to flee to Normandy. Swein was declared king of England on Christmas day 1013, but on February 3rd 1014 he died.

His son Harald, succeeded him as king of Denmark, the other son Cnut, who was with him in England, was proclaimed king of England by the Danish fleet but was forced to return to Denmark when Æthelred returned in the spring of that year.

Answer: Ulfcytel

In 1004, after plundering Norwich the Danes had moved to Thetford, meanwhile Ulfcytel had gathered what forces he could and ordered the raiders ships to be destoyed (an order that was not carried out). The Danes plundered and burned the town of Thetford, the next morning they were surprised to see Ulfcytel blocking their path, battle ensued and both sides took heavy casualties, but the Danes won the day and returned to their ships. "As the enemy said themselves, that they never met with worse hand-play in England than Ulfcytel brought them." (Extract from the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle').

He fought another hard battle at Ringmere in 1010 with the same result. Ulfcytel was killed at the battle of Ashingdon in 1016. He was given the name Snillingr (the valiant), and East Anglia is referred to as Ulfcytel's land in the Norse 'Heimskringla'.

Answer: Thorkell the Tall

Thorkell the tall's fleet arrived at Sandwich in 1009 immediately extracting 3000 pounds of silver from Kent, over the next two years most of southern and eastern England was plundered by him. By 1011 England was on its knees and Æthelred had no choice but to buy Thorkell off, it cost him 48,000 pounds of silver. Thorkell with 40 ships crews then entered into Æthelred service as mercenaries, as far as is known remained loyal until Æthelred fled to Normandy, he then returned to Denmark.

In 1015 he returned to England with Cnut, and was appointed ealdorman of East Anglia by Cnut in 1017. Cnut outlawed Thorkell in November 1021, however by 1023 they had patched things up and Thorkell was made regent of Denmark.

Answer: Ælfeah

In 1011 Thorkell's army captured Canterbury through the treachery of a certain Ælmaer. Ælfeah (Alphege) the Archbishop was captured and taken to Greenwich, were he was held for the next seven months. The Danes received their payment of 48,000 geld around Easter 1012, but wanted extra for the Archbishop, Ælfeah refused to let himself be ransomed, and on Saturday the 19th April, the Danes angry and apparently drunk, dragged Ælfeah before an assembly where he was pelted with bones and heads of cattle, one of the Vikings is said to have put him out of his misery by striking him at the back of his head with the blunt of his axe.

Answer: Eadric Streona

Eadric Streona ('the acquisitor' ) was the son-in-law of king Æthelred, and was made ealdorman of Mercia in 1007, by 1012 he seems to have been the principal advisor to the king. Known for his acquiring of land and revenues belonging to the church and accusing other nobles of crimes and treason.

In 1009 when Æthelred had actually managed to get in a position to attack the Danes of Swein Forkbeard, the 'Anglo-Saxon chronicle' reported that "all the people were ready to fall upon them; but the plan was then frustrated through ealdorman Eadric, as it ever was...." In 1015 he deserted the king and Edmund Ironside, taking 40 ships' crews of Danes in the service of Æthelred and joined with Cnut. Edmund defeated the Danes at the battle of Otford, and Eadric this time deserted Cnut and swore an oath of loyalty to Edmund, however at Ashingdon in 1016 he is said to have caused a division of Edmund's army to flee the battle through trickery.

When Cnut became king of England he restored Eadric to his office of ealdorman of Mercia. Cnut him executed in London in 1017. Eadric's body was said to have been thrown over the city wall and left to rot.

Answer: Wulfstan II Archbishop of York

In 1014 Wulfstan II Archbishop of York delivered his 'Sermo Lupi ad Anglos' comparing England at the time of Gildas to the England of his day, warning of the moral decline of the English and the threat of retribution at the hands of a foreign invader. Wulfstan became Bishop of London in 996; in 1002 he became bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of York holding both sees until 1016 when he resigned his position at Worcester. Wulfstan died on May 28th 1023 and was buried in Ely.

Answer: Edmund

All the people of the five Burghs (Morcar and Sigeferth's lands)submitted to Edmund. Edmund twice raised a great army, the first refused to fight unless the king joined them, the second army was dismissed when the king joined them (the king fearing the loyalty of sections of the army), and Æthelred and his son Edmund returned to London. On 23rd March 1016 Æthelred died, and the people of London chose Edmund as king, but the rest of the country submitted to Cnute. Edmund fought several successful battles against the Danes, but in October met with disaster at the battle of Ashingdon. Cnut and Edmund came to an agreement at Olney near Deerhurst in Gloucestershire, Edmund would rule Wessex and Cnut the rest of England. Edmund died on 30th November 1016.