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 Canute The Great Canute the Great, also known as Cnut in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, or Knut (Old Norse: Knútr inn ríki, Norwegian: Knut den mektige, Swedish: Knut den Store, Danish: Knud den Store, Polish: Kanut Wielki) (died 12 November 1035) was a Viking king of England and Denmark, and Norway, and of some of Sweden (such as the Sigtuna Swedes). His successes as a statesman, politically and militarily, and the high status he enjoyed among medieval Europe's magnates, winning a number of concessions for his people in diplomacy with the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, often cause modern historians to call him Emperor of the North, although this is an unofficial title. In a letter written on a journey to Rome, after his victory over the kings of Norway and Sweden, Canute proclaims himself king of all England and Denmark and the Norwegians and of some of the Swedes. His kingship of England, and the concomitant struggles of the kings of Denmark for preeminence within Scandinavia, though, meant Canute held a considerable overlordship across other areas of the British Isles too, in line with his Anglo-Saxon predecessors, and the leader of the strongest Viking regime in history. Uncertain though the extent of this dominance is, we can say Canute's rule was felt by the sea-kingdoms of the Viking settlers among the Celtic nations, known as theGall Gaidel. These were theKingdom of the Isles(probably under direct overlordship throughHåkon Eiriksson), in theSea of the Hebrides, and the Kingdom of Dublin(probably on the terms ofvassaland suzerain), in theIrish Sea. His main aim here was for control of the western seaways to and from Scandinavia, and to check the might of theEarlsof Orkney. At the height of his reign, certainGaelickingdoms, and the dominantUi Imhairsea-kingdom, were inclientagewith Canute too. Canute, a Viking, was to be one of England's most successful kings. His statesmanship, with a sure protection against raiders, brought in a prosperous era of stability. The reign of this wealthy nation, and the pedigree of his Danish heritage, meant he was eventually able to manoeuvre an overlordship within Scandinavia, and substantial parts of the British Isles too. In July 1017, Canute married Emma of Normandy, the widow of Ethelred, and daughter ofRichard the Fearless, the firstDuke of Normandy. With this marriage he was able to elevate his line above the heirs of England's overthrown dynasty, in the eyes of theNormans, as well as protect himself against his enemies, with Emma and Ethelred's sonsEdward the Confessor and Alfred Athelingin exile amongst their relatives. His wife held the keys to a secure English court in several ways. Canute put forward their sonHarthacanuteto be his heir; his two sons from his marriage toAelgifu of Northampton, hishandfastwife, were left on the sidelines. He sent Harthacanut to Denmark when he was still a boy, and the heir to the throne was brought up, as Canute was himself, a Viking. Through his reign, Canute brought together the English and Danish kingdoms, and the people saw a golden age of dominance across Scandinavia, as well as within the British Isles. Canute was generally thought to be a wise and successful king of England, although this view may in part be attributable to his good treatment of the Church, keeper of the historic record. Either way, he brought decades of peace and prosperity to England. His numerous campaigns abroad meant the tables of Viking supremacy were stacked in favour of the English, turning the prows of the longships towards Scandinavia. The medieval Church was adept to success, and put itself at the back of any strong and efficient sovereign, if the circumstances were right for it. Thus we hear of him, even today, as a religious man, despite the fact that he was in an effectively sinful relationship, with two wives, and the harsh treatment of his fellow Christian opponents. Canute was ruler across a domain beyond any monarchs of England, until the adventures of the imperial European colonies, and the empire of the English.
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