<p>King &AElig;thelred II (978-1016), known as &#39;the Unready&#39;, is a relatively unknown English monarch. The exploration of &AElig;thelred&#39;s reign in this volume complements a study undertaken by the author in an earlier book about the Scandinavian invasions of England during &AElig;thelred&#39;s reign; a study which followed the careers of the Danish warlords Swein Forkbeard and Thorkell the Tall to explain the complex relationship between Scandinavian armies and the English establishment. The &AElig;theling &AElig;thelred, who was to reign as &#39;&AElig;thelred II, king of the English, emperor of all the peoples of Britain&#39; from 978 until 1016, was born c.968. Chronicle evidence suggests a date between March and July of that year. Although it is convenient to use the word &#39;England&#39; to describe the territory ruled directly by King &AElig;thelred and his father, Edgar, it is worth remembering that &AElig;thelred regarded himself as the ruler of &#39;peoples&#39;; hence he was king of the English and emperor [basileus] of all the peoples of Britain.</p>