King Ethelred, the Unready
The story of King Ethelred, later known as “the Unready,” and his approach to defending against a Viking invasion teaches us that there’s no honor when it comes to war. When faced with Viking invaders during inclement weather, many of the Viking ships crashed as they attempted to land on English shores. Ethelred, a king known for his piety, adhered to a sense of chivalry and deemed it dishonorable to attack the disoriented Vikings as they struggled ashore.
Instead, he held his troops back, allowing the Vikings time to regroup and form proper battle lines. Unfortunately, this chivalrous decision proved costly, as the better-prepared Vikings ultimately prevailed in the battle. Ethelred’s restraint, born from a sense of honor, highlights the intricate moral and tactical dilemmas faced by leaders in the midst of medieval conflicts, often with far-reaching consequences.