A Tale of Two Charters: Diploma Production and Political Performance in Æthelredian England

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of royal diplomas during the reign of King Æthelred II (‘the Unready’) of England. Focusing on the two longest authentic documents in his name, it argues that these bear witness to significant political turning points. Their wording is highly charged, suggesting that they were not passive witnesses to developments, but active participants therein; their promulgation was an essential part of how new programmes were presented and enacted. As such, they shed salient light on the nature of political performance in Æthelredian England, revealing how the king communicated with his subjects during one of the longest and most eventful reigns in English history.