Charlenerd: Also, since the King was appointed by God, it would be sacrilege to directly blame the king for bad decisions. So you blame their advisors instead. God didn’t appoint them, apparently. Hence “poorly counseled.”

We just may have to come to grips with the idea we have a king, like Charles I or James II or Richard II.

I'm pretty sure this one is Ethelred the Unready...

Amusingly, just started watching "Vikings:We Made Money, We Have The Costumes and Props Paid For, So Here's A Sequel" on Netflix, which starts off featuring ol' Ethel. (Aethel?) Also read his sobriquet can translate to "the ill-advised". Which works.

It’s a pun on his name, which means something like “noble counsel”. So Aethred the Unready is an oxymoron, like “Courage the Cowardly Dog”.

And now I know! And knowing is half the battle!

Also, since the King was appointed by God, it would be sacrilege to directly blame the king for bad decisions. So you blame their advisors instead. God didn’t appoint them, apparently. Hence “poorly counseled.”

“Aethelred” - could have used an edit button up there.

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