anute, Cnut or Knut, called The Great (995-1035), King of England, Denmark, and Norway, was the son of Sweyn of Denmark. On the death of his father, during an invasion of England, Canute was proclaimed king of that country, but his supremacy was contested by Edmund Ironsides, son of Ethelred I, who was at that time a refugee in Normandy. Within a short time, however, Edmund was treacherously assassinated, and Canute was proclaimed king of all England. On the death of his brother Harold, in 1019, he became king of Denmark also. He conciliated the higher clergy by his liberality, and secured his position still further by the creation of a standing army. Canute overawed and partially subjugated the Wendish pirates; and when the kings of Norway and Sweden invaded Denmark, checked them at the battle of Helgeaa (1026). In 1027 he made a pilgrimage to Rome, and in 1028 invaded Norway, and added it to his dominions. A famous story relates how he proved to his flattering courtiers that the waves did not retreat at his command. He was buried at Winchester. [World Wide Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1935]

Canute II, called The Great (994?-1035), king of England (1016-35), Denmark (1018-35), and Norway (1028-35).

Canute, the son of Sweyn I Forkbeard, king of the Danes, conquered England in 1013. When his father died the following year, he was proclaimed king of England by his Danish warriors. However, the witenagemot, an advisory body to the Anglo-Saxon kings, reinstated King Ethelred, and Canute fled. He returned in 1015 and soon subjugated all of England, except London. After Ethelred's death in 1016, the Londoners named his son, Edmund II, king. During an ensuing struggle, the Londoners were defeated at Ashingdon, Essex, in October 1016. The following month Edmund died and Canute emerged the undisputed king. A wise and effective ruler, he reconciled with the English and maintained peace with the Continental powers. To that end he married King Ethelred's widow, Emma of Normandy, supported the church, and in 1027 went to Rome for the coronation of Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. For administrative purposes he divided England into the four earldoms of Mercia, Northumberland, Wessex, and East Anglia.

Canute continued to reside in England even after he inherited the crown of Denmark in 1018. He soon began his conflict with Olaf II of Norway, whose realm he claimed. Forcing Olaf into exile in 1028, Canute installed his young son, Sweyn, to govern Norway; after Olaf's fall at Stiklestad in 1030 his rule was unchallenged. Canute's North Sea empire fell apart after his death. Two sons separately ascended the thrones of England and Denmark, while the son of Olaf II succeeded in Norway. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]

Additional information: Britannia.com

Back