King Canute

NAME King Canute (also known as Cnut the Great)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR King Canute is famous for being the King of England, Denmark, and Norway, and for his attempt to control the waves as a demonstration of the limits of kingly power.

BIRTH Canute was born around 995 AD somewhere in Denmark.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Canute's father, Sweyn Forkbeard, a reputed member of the Jomsburg Vikings, was recognized as King of England by the Witan in 1013. However, he died a year later. 

Canute's mother was Gunhild of Poland, daughter of Mieszko I. It's a complex lineage: Gunhild's own mother had been forcibly taken from a religious institution and married to Mieszko, who later converted to Christianity for political reasons. 

Despite this Christian influence on his mother's side, Sweyn remained pagan until his death.

CHILDHOOD Details of Canute's childhood are scarce, but he grew up in a royal and military environment, learning the skills necessary for leadership and warfare.

EDUCATION Canute's education would have been typical for a prince of his time, focusing on martial training, governance, and possibly some aspects of Scandinavian and Christian culture.

CAREER RECORD Canute established a North Sea Empire becoming one of the most powerful rulers of his era. Here's his resume:

1013: Canute accompanied his father in invading England.

1016: He was acclaimed King of England after defeating Edmund Ironside at Ashingdon.

1017 Canute was crowned King of England on January 6, 1017.

1018: Succeeded his brother, Harold, as King of Denmark.

1028: Canute conquered Norway.

APPEARANCE According to a 13th century Icelandic saga, Canute was “exceptionally tall and strong, and the handsomest of men, all except for his nose, that was thin, high-set, and rather hooked. He had a fair complexion and a fine, thick head of hair. His eyes were better than those of other men, being both more handsome and keener-sighted.”

Contemporary drawing of King Cnut from the New Minster Liber Vitae

FASHION As a king, Canute would have worn garments befitting his status, including fine furs, silks, and jewelry.

In winter he was "beserk", which in Viking language means clad in Bearskin.

CHARACTER Canute was known for being a shrewd and pragmatic ruler, combining firmness with a sense of justice.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Canute is remembered for his famous demonstration at the shore, humorously illustrating that even a king's power has limits when he commanded the tide to halt and it did not.

RELATIONSHIPS Canute was a man of action, a king of consequence. If he wanted something, he went and got it, often with a healthy dose of ruthlessness. Take his love life, for instance. He repudiated his doubtfully legal wife, Queen  Elgiua, by whom he had his son and successor, Harold Harefoot, and married in 1017 the beautiful Norman , Emma, the widow of a previous King, Ethelred the Unready. He hoped this would improve his relationship with her brother, the Duke of Normandy and promote his claim to the English throne. I guess  the fact that she was hotter than Mount Etna and was cute for Canute must have helped. She was older than him but had retained her beauty. 

Before Elgiua was unceremoniously dumped to the curb she produced a couple of kids for Canute . There was Harold, who seemed more interested in hunting than ruling kingdoms, and Sweyn, who eventually ended up king of Norway. With Emma he had three children: Cnutsson, Hardicanute, and Gunhilda.

Canute was a master of the political chessboard. He tidied over the difficulty of fixing Denmark's border with Germany by marrying his daughter, Gunhild to the son of the Holy Roman Emperor. The Germans, ever suckers for a pretty face and a royal pedigree, were instantly smitten. Problem solved. Canute, as always, came out smelling of roses.

MONEY AND FAME As a ruler of multiple kingdoms, Canute was immensely wealthy. His fame spread throughout Europe due to his military conquests and political influence.

The tale of Canute rebuking his courtiers who assured him he was so great that he could even rule the waves may or may not be true. The story goes that these courtiers – you know the type – who were so busy kissing his royal backside they’d convinced themselves he was practically a god. They told him he could command anything, even the sea.

Canute, being a smart cookie, decided to put this theory to the test. He got himself a throne, plonked it down on the beach, and issued a royal decree to the ocean: “Back off, big fella! I’m the king here!” Can you guess what happened next? The tide came in, and Canute got his feet wet.

So, he did this incredibly dramatic thing – hung up his crown. Now, whether he actually did this or if some overeager monk dreamed it up a century later for a bit of a laugh, we’ll never know. But it’s a great story, isn’t it?

Old dampfoot destroyed the Royal Mint at Cadbury, Somerset, which Ethelred the Unready had set up. 

The very last Danegeld ever to be paid, a sum of £82,500, was paid to Canute in 1018. He felt secure enough to send the invasion fleet back to Denmark with a payment of £72,000 that same year.

FOOD AND DRINK Canute would have enjoyed a diet typical of medieval royalty, including meats, fish, bread, fruits, and ale.

MUSIC AND ARTS While specific details about Canute's patronage of the arts are limited, his reign would have supported the flourishing of cultural activities in his kingdoms.

Apparently Canute composed and sung the following as he rowed past Ely "Merie sungen the Munehis binnen Ely tha cnut ching rev by." And they claim Radiohead's lyrics can be obscure...

LITERATURE Canute’s reign saw the continuation and production of many important historical documents, though none personally attributed to him.

Illiteracy was common among rulers of the era, so it's unlikely Canute was a prolific reader or writer.

NATURE Canute’s interaction with nature is famously symbolized by his attempt to command the tide.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Canute would have engaged in typical royal pastimes of the era, such as hunting and feasting.

Canute was a determined competitor. On one occasion, when his chess opponent, Earl Ulf, wouldn't let him retract a bad move, he unsportingly had him killed

SCIENCE AND MATHS His reign supported the technological and intellectual advancements of his time.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Canute was a staunch ally of the English Church, mandating Christianity for his subjects. The famous tale of his rebuke at the seashore, where he supposedly hung up his crown after realizing the limits of human power, is a testament to the complex interplay of piety and pragmatism in his character.

Baptized before assuming the English throne, Canute was a generous benefactor to the Church. He endowed monasteries, established new abbeys, and enacted laws supporting Church finances and observance. His pilgrimage to Rome in 1027 was a public display of devotion that also brought political and economic advantages.

While Canute embraced Christianity, his pagan upbringing as a worshipper of Woden shaped a strong, authoritarian leadership style. His belief in divine right monarchy fueled his absolute rule.

Picture below shows angels crown Canute as he and Emma of Normandy present a large gold cross to Hyde Abbey in Winchester

From the New Minster Liber Vitae in the British Library

POLITICS Canute was a skilled politician who managed to unify and rule over a diverse North Sea Empire, balancing the interests of different groups.

SCANDAL One notable scandal involved the alleged murder of Ælfgar, the brother of Edmund Ironside, although Canute's direct involvement is debated.

MILITARY RECORD Canute was a formidable military leader, securing his kingdoms through strategic battles and alliances, notably defeating Edmund Ironside to become King of England.

(1) As a youth he accompanied his father on his invasion of England. Canute was left in charge of his fleet at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. 

(2) In 1016 Canute was offered the English throne after defeating Edmund Ironside at Ashingdon in Essex. He had formerly been controlled the south and Edmund, the north. He was so in control that he sent most of his army back to Denmark.

(3) Canute landed in Norway unopposed in 1028 to claim the throne, and when the Norwegian King Olaf tried to claim it back, he was defeated and killed at the 1030 Battle of Stiklestad.

(4) In 1031 he turned the tide against his enemies by conquering Scotland and forcing King Malcolm to recognise his overlordship. Amongst those who did homage to Canute was a certain Maelboethe later immortalised by Shakespeare as Macbeth. 

He defended England from Viking attacks in 1017, 1026 and 1028.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Details about Canute's health are scarce, but his successful military campaigns suggest he was physically robust and fit.

HOMES Canute’s primary residences included palaces in England, Denmark, and Norway, though specific locations are not well-documented. He continued to reside in England even after inheriting the crown of Denmark in 1018.

TRAVEL Canute travelled extensively across his empire and went on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1026. He was the first ruler to issue passports to pilgrims.

He travelled round England with his staff of secretaries, scribes and legal advisors - the first king to do.

DEATH Canute died on November 12, 1035, in Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, and was buried in Winchester. His son, Harold Harefoot, succeeded him. Canute's body was immersed in alcohol, inserted with herbs, and wrapped in waxed sheets.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA While Canute the Great lived over a millennium ago, his legacy has endured, making him a recurring figure in popular culture.

Historical Fiction: Authors often find Canute's complex character, a blend of warrior and statesman, a compelling subject. Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom series, while primarily focused on Uhtred of Bebbanburg, features Canute as a significant historical figure.

Children's Literature: The story of Canute and the tide is a popular children's tale, often simplified and adapted to younger audiences.

Docudramas: While not a frequent subject, Canute has appeared in historical documentaries that explore the Viking Age and the formation of England.

Comedic Appearances: Canute's story, particularly the "Canute and the tide" anecdote, has been used for comedic effect in various TV shows and films.

ACHIEVEMENTS Canute successfully united and ruled over a vast North Sea Empire, maintained peace and stability, and left a lasting legacy in medieval European history.

Persuaded the Holy Roman Emperor to reduce tolls on English traders and travelers.

Established equal rights for Danes and enforced Anglo-Saxon customs.

Established the first English army.

The first Norse ruler to be accepted as a civilized Christian King.

Source (1) Oxford Book of English Literature