The reign of Æthelred '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 Æthelred'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 Æthelred'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.