St. Brice’s Day massacre

November 13, 1002
Kingdom of England
King Aethelred the Unready orders the execution of all Danish men in the Kingdom of England

The King believed the Danes, who had already raided England several times in the previous few years, would “would faithlessly take his life, and then all his councillors, and possess his kingdom afterwards,” and so ordered their executions. Records do not hold how many were killed during the St. Brice’s Day massacre, named after Saint Brice of Tours whose feast day is November 13. However, a mass grave of 34 and 38 young men, aged 16 to 25, was uncovered which archaeologists believe to be the victims of the massacre.