Cnut

Cnut, also known as Canute and called "the Great," was a powerful king who ruled three lands: England, Denmark, and Norway during the early 1000s. From around the year 1016 until his death in 1035, he brought these places together under one rule, which historians call the North Sea Empire.

As a young Danish prince, Cnut became king of England after years of Viking raids in northwestern Europe. He later became king of Denmark and, after some battles, also took control of Norway. Cnut worked to unite the Danish and English people through shared customs and wealth.

Ruling England gave Cnut and the Danes important connections near the sea between Great Britain and Ireland. He also had influence in religious matters, gaining advantages for his bishops and people. After winning a battle and returning from Rome, where a new Holy Roman Emperor was crowned, Cnut called himself the king of many peoples, showing his wide power.

Today, Cnut is often remembered in a famous story about trying to stop the ocean waves, known as the legend of King Canute and the tide.

Birth and kingship

Cnut was the son of the Danish prince Swein Forkbeard, who was the heir to King Harald Bluetooth. This placed Cnut within a line of Scandinavian rulers important in uniting Denmark. His exact birthplace and date of birth are unknown.

Cnut grew up during a time when Viking raids were common in Europe. He learned leadership and fighting from a skilled warrior named Thorkell the Tall. When he was older, Cnut joined his father’s army in attacks on England. These attacks were part of many years of Viking activity in the area. After his father became king of England in 1013, Cnut was left in charge of part of the army. When his father died the next year, Cnut was chosen as king by the local people in England, though the English leaders wanted their own king back. Cnut then prepared for another attack to claim the throne for himself.

Conquest of England

Cnut, a Danish prince, became King of England after years of Viking raids in Europe. In 1015, he led a large group of Vikings to England. They fought many battles against the English, led by Edmund Ironside, the son of the English king.

Cnut’s forces first landed in the south of England, in a place called Wessex. They moved through several areas, meeting little resistance. Some English leaders switched sides and joined Cnut. Later, Cnut’s army moved north and then back south, besieging the important city of London.

After more battles, Cnut and Edmund made a peace agreement. The land north of the Thames River would be under Cnut’s rule, and the land south would stay with Edmund. However, Edmund died soon after, and Cnut became the king of all England. He was crowned in London in 1017.

King of England

Cnut ruled England for nearly twenty years. His leadership helped protect the country from Viking attacks, bringing back peace and prosperity after many years of raids. With this stability, England also helped Cnut strengthen his control over parts of Scandinavia.

Cnut made many changes to govern England better. He created four large regions, each led by a governor called an earl. This helped organize the country more effectively. Cnut also collected taxes to pay his army and keep order. He respected the church and supported its work, which helped him be remembered as a wise ruler.

King of Denmark

Harald II died in 1018, and Cnut went to Denmark to take control of the Danish throne. He wanted to protect England from attacks and sent a letter about this in 1019. Some Danes opposed him, and he led an attack on a group called the Wends from Pomerania.

After making his rule in Denmark more stable, Cnut returned to England in 1020. He appointed Ulf Jarl as regent of Denmark. Ulf was married to Cnut's sister Estrid Svendsdatter and was trusted to care for Cnut's young son Harthacnut, who was to be the next king.

Later, when Olaf Haraldsson and Anund Jakob attacked Denmark while Cnut was busy with England, Ulf helped the Danish people accept young Harthacnut as king. This allowed Ulf to rule as regent. When Cnut heard about this, he sailed back to Denmark to restore his rule and deal with Ulf. In a battle at the mouth of the river Helgeå in 1026, Cnut fought against the Norwegians and Swedes and won, becoming the leading ruler in Scandinavia.

After dealing with his enemies in Scandinavia, Cnut accepted an invitation to attend an important event in Rome in 1027. This was a big honor for rulers in Europe during the Middle Ages. During his visit, Cnut worked to make travel safer for people going to Rome and to reduce costs for church leaders in England. He returned to Denmark to arrange for its safety before planning to sail back to England.

King of Norway and part of Sweden

Cnut called himself the king of the Norwegians and some Swedes in a letter from 1027. He had defeated some Swedes, which may mean the river Helgeå is in Uppland, not in eastern Scania. Some coins found in the Swedish city of Sigtuna named him as king, though they might just be copies of Danish coins. Other coins even named the Swedish king Olof Skötkonung as king of England.

In 1028, Cnut sailed from England to Norway with fifty ships and became king there. The former king, Olaf Haraldsson, could not fight well because some of his nobles had been persuaded by Cnut. Cnut now ruled England, Denmark, Norway, and part of Sweden. He gave control of an important area called the Earldom of Lade to a man named Håkon Eiriksson.

Influence in the western sea-ways

In 1014, a big battle happened near Dublin called the Battle of Clontarf. Leaders from different places fought, and many important people lost their lives.

After this, there was a time when Vikings from Dublin had more freedom. Cnut, who was becoming a powerful leader, used this chance to grow his influence. Coins made in Dublin during his time sometimes showed Cnut’s name, showing he had control there.

Cnut’s poets wrote about how leaders came to him for peace. Later, Cnut led an army to Scotland in 1031. Three Scottish kings agreed to follow him without any fighting. However, Cnut’s influence in Scotland didn’t last long after he passed away.

Relations with the Church

Cnut had a complicated relationship with the Church. Even though he was already a Christian, being named Lambert at his baptism, some of his actions made the Church uneasy. For example, he married Emma of Normandy even though he was already married to Ælfgifu of Northampton. To improve his standing with church leaders, Cnut repaired churches and monasteries that had been damaged by Viking raids. He also built new churches and supported monastic communities.

Cnut gave many gifts to churches and religious leaders. He gave land, tax exemptions, and holy relics to various churches. He also sent valuable books and gifts to leaders in other countries. In 1027, Cnut traveled to Rome, possibly to improve relations with other rulers and to show his devotion to the Christian faith. During this visit, he made agreements to help travelers and reduce certain fees for church leaders from England.

Death and succession

Cnut passed away on 12 November 1035 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. In Denmark, he was succeeded by Harthacnut, who also ruled as Cnut III. However, Harthacnut faced challenges in Scandinavia, especially with a war against Magnus I of Norway. Because of these difficulties, some in England felt Harthacnut was too focused on Denmark.

Cnut's mother, Queen Emma, had to leave Bruges in the County of Flanders due to pressure from supporters of another son, Harold Harefoot. Harold served as regent in England from 1035 to 1037 and later claimed the English throne until his death in 1040. Eventually, peace returned to Scandinavia, allowing Harthacnut to claim the throne in 1040. He reunited the crowns of Denmark and England until his death in 1042. After that, Denmark experienced some disorder with a struggle for power.

Bones at Winchester

Cnut was buried in the Old Minster, Winchester. Later, during the building of Winchester Cathedral after 1066, his remains were placed in special chests. During the English Civil War in the 17th century, soldiers scattered his bones, mixing them with others. After the restoration of the monarchy, the bones were gathered and placed back into their chests, though not perfectly in order.

Marriages and children

Cnut had two wives. His first wife was Ælfgifu of Northampton. They had two sons: Sweyn Knutsson, who became King of Norway, and Harold Harefoot, who became King of England.

His second wife was Emma of Normandy. They had two children: Harthacnut, who became King of Denmark and England, and Gunhilda of Denmark, who married Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor.

Family tree

Cnut's skalds

The Old Norse list of poets, called Skáldatal, mentions eight poets who worked at Cnut's court. Four of these poets—Sigvatr Þórðarson, Óttarr svarti, Þórarinn loftunga, and Hallvarðr háreksblesi—wrote poems honoring Cnut that we still have today. Their main works include three Knútsdrápur poems and two others by Þórarinn loftunga.

These poets often compared Cnut's rule to how God rules Heaven, showing a link between earthly and divine leadership. Even though their messages were Christian, they sometimes used old pagan ideas in their poems. For example, one poem called Cnut "Freyr of battle," using the name of an old pagan god to describe him as a warrior.

The story of Cnut and the waves

Main article: King Canute and the tide

There is a famous story about Cnut and the sea. According to an old book written by Henry of Huntingdon, Cnut once sat on the beach as the tide was coming in. He told the waves they could not touch him because he was the king. But the waves came in anyway and wet his feet. Cnut then said that this showed that even a king's power has limits, and that only a greater power controls the world.