Through out the years of 997 to 1001 A.D. England was constantly under attack by Vikings, and the Danish raiders. Even before those years, when King Ethelred was only 14 years old, in 980 the English were being attacked by the Danes. Pope John XV, started to dissolve the hostility between the people, arranging for a peace treaty in 991. However, in that same year, a sizable Danish fleet begin a campaign against south-east England. This beget the Battle of Maldon. The Church had lost its power over peace.
The Danish had become hostile because King Ethelred's father King Edgar and recaptured the land of Danelaw. The Danish wanted recompense, so Ethelred, came up with a payment of 10,000 pounds for peace. If the church wasn't going to gain peace the people thought maybe money could buy it, but the raids continued (Ethelred then 24). Accordingly, 22,000 pounds had been paid to Olaf and the Danish people altogether for the price of peace, by 1000 A.D. yet the attacks continued. The same fleet of Dane's that were attacking before the payment, were attacking after the payment.
Olaf, and the Danish kingdom had been suffering under famine. Olaf was trying to rebuild Trondheim and so would probably have sent his acclaimed starving fleets to gain some wealth from the king of England. Instead of begging, or coming to some other agreement, the Danish charged ahead killing people, till they received their "danegeld" the danish payment. In 1001 another Danish fleet attacked Sussex, probably under the guidance of King Olaf or the Danish King of England Forkbeard. Weakened again, and not willing to give up his land, Ethelred entered a truce with them, paying 24,000 pounds.
Finally England had enough of putting up with the Danish people, and gave up his attempt to create peace between them. Ethelred sent men into England on St. Brice's day ordering the death of all Danish men. This however was just a small hint at the constant disputes that Danish would have with the English. Swevyn Forkbeard, continued taking "danegeld," and with it revenge.
In 2010, the college of Oxford had plans to build college housing. To their horror, construction commissioned to the site, found the skeletons, what would be later shown to be 54 male skulls. Archaeologists proved through carbon dating, that these were the skulls of Danish men killed on St. Brice Day, 13th November, 1002 A.D.
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