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He had the misfortune to be a person with little natural aptitude as a military leader or enthusiasm for war, whose reign coincided with a resurgence in [[Viking]] ([[Danish]]) attacks on the country. He came to the throne under suspicion of implication in the murder of his predecessor, and could gain the trust of neither the nobles nor the people. It seems, though, that in the early years of his reign he was an able financial administrator and law maker in a time that produced fine literature and ecclesiastical reform. (Certainly, the enormous sums later collected for tribute to the Danes are evidence of an efficient taxation system!) In the later years, as the [[kingdom]] came under increasing pressure, he relied too much on the advice of those who were incompetent, self serving, or downright treacherous.  

He had the misfortune to be a person with little natural aptitude as a military leader or enthusiasm for war, whose reign coincided with a resurgence in [[Viking]] ([[Danish]]) attacks on the country. He came to the throne under suspicion of implication in the murder of his predecessor, and could gain the trust of neither the nobles nor the people. It seems, though, that in the early years of his reign he was an able financial administrator and law maker in a time that produced fine literature and ecclesiastical reform. (Certainly, the enormous sums later collected for tribute to the Danes are evidence of an efficient taxation system!) In the later years, as the [[kingdom]] came under increasing pressure, he relied too much on the advice of those who were incompetent, self serving, or downright treacherous.  

   

   

He is known for the introduction of [[Danegeld]] into England, an attempt, as tried by France over 40 years previously, to buy off the Danes. From 991 increasingly large amounts of silver were handed over to little avail. His problems were compounded in 1002 when he ordered the deaths of all the Danish living in the land, having been advised they “meant to beguile him out of his life”. The [[St. Brice’s Day Massacre]] had the opposite effect – the death of the Danish king’s sister in the massacre brought on massive reprisals. During the next few years much of southern England was laid waste.

He is known for the introduction of [[Danegeld]] into England, an attempt, as tried by France over 40 years previously, to buy off the Danes. From 991 increasingly large amounts of silver were handed over to little avail. His problems were compounded in 1002 when he ordered the deaths of all the Danish living in the land, having been advised they “meant to beguile him out of his life”. The [[St. Brice's Day Massacre]] had the opposite effect – the death of the Danish king’s sister in the massacre brought on massive reprisals. During the next few years much of southern England was laid waste.

In 1013 [[Sweyn Forkbeard]] made a full scale invasion, ravaging [[East Anglia]] and the [[Humber]] region, then inland and south as far as [[Oxford]] and [[Winchester]] and across to [[Bath]]. He became effectively king of England. He died the next year, though, and Ethelred was recalled on promise of a fair and just reign. He died in 1016 as the Danish king [[Canute]] was ravaging the land.

In 1013 [[Sweyn Forkbeard]] made a full scale invasion, ravaging [[East Anglia]] and the [[Humber]] region, then inland and south as far as [[Oxford]] and [[Winchester]] and across to [[Bath]]. He became effectively king of England. He died the next year, though, and Ethelred was recalled on promise of a fair and just reign. He died in 1016 as the Danish king [[Canute]] was ravaging the land.