The diplomas of King Æthelred 'The Unready' (978-1016) : a study in their use as historical evidence
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The diplomas of King Æthelred 'The Unready' (978-1016) : a study in their use as historical evidence
（Cambridge studies in medieval life and thought / edited by G.G. Coulton, 3d ser.,
Cambridge University Press, 1980
Available at 12 libraries
Note
Tables in pocket
Bibliography: p. 274-284
Includes indexes
Description and Table of Contents
Description
The reign of AEthelred 'the Unready' (978-1016) is known to us mainly from a series of annals in the Anglo-Saxon Chrolicle, written at or after its close and accordingly conveying an impression of gathering doom as Viking armies ravaged the country and eventually, under the leadership of Swein Forkbeard and Cnut, brought about its conquest. Dr Keynes is here concerned to establish what light the royal diplomas issued in King AEthelred's name throw on this unhappy and notorious period. He first considers the general issues that bear directly on the value of royal diplomas as historical evidence for all periods of Anglo-Saxon history, discussing the circumstances under which these documents have been preserved, the techniques available for their criticism, and the arrangements that existed for their production. He then demonstrates how a detailed analysis of AEthelred's diplomas can transform our understanding of this troubled reign. On a practical level they provide invaluable evidence on the operation of royal government, and on a personal level they afford a remarkable insight into the relations between the king and his councillors, suggesting a picture of political manoeuvring and court intrigue which compensates for the chronicler's emphasis on the struggle against the marauding Vikings. By placing the familiar account of incessant warfare in the context of these domestic affairs it becomes possible for the first time to see the reign in its true perspective.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Note on system of reference
- 1. The preservation and criticism of Anglo-Saxon royal diplomas
- 2. The production of Anglo-Saxon royal diplomas before the reign of King AEthelred
- 3. The diplomas of King AEthelred
- 4. A framework for the reign of King AEthelred
- Appendices
- Index.
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