ardicanute (c. 1019-42), king of England,
son of Canute and Emma of Normandy. He was under-king in Denmark
at the time of his father’s death (1035), and the Witan gave
the crown to his half-brother Harold, reserving Wessex for
Hardicanute. The West Saxons deposed him in 1037 for tarrying in
Denmark, and he made preparations for invading England when
Harold died (1040). The Witan then offered Hardicanute the crown.
[World Wide Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1935]
Hardecanute (Danish Hardeknud) (circa 1019-42), king of Denmark (1035-42) and last Danish king of England (1040-42), probably born in Denmark. He was the son of King Canute and Emma of Normandy and thus the heir to the English realm. When Canute died, however, Hardecanute was in Denmark, and his illegitimate half brother, Harold Harefoot, who was then in England, took control of that country; he was accepted as King Harold I by the witenagemot (royal council) in 1037. The ensuing struggle between the two brothers was ended only by the death of Harold in 1040. Hardecanute, then officially chosen as king by the witenagemot, was unpopular with his subjects and left the control of the realm to his mother and the powerful Godwin, earl of Wessex. Hardecanute was succeeded in Denmark by Magnus I (the Good), king of Norway, and in England by his half brother Edward the Confessor. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]
Additional information: Britannia.com
