Viking Britain - King Canute

1. King Canute was a Viking King of England 1016 -1035, also became King of Denmark and Norway.

2. Canute had a formidable personality and was tall, handsome and strong.

3. He brought many years of peace to the country.

4. Canute accompanied father as young Viking warrior on invasion of 1013.

5. They were defeated by King Aethered and returned to Denmark.

6. Canute invaded again in 1015 with 10,000 men and took control of virtually whole country except London.

7. At first Canute was very hard on his English rivals and had them killed.

8. The Witan (Anglo-Saxon parliament) chose Canute as king, but London chose Edmund II

9. Canute defeated Edmund at the Battle of Ashingdon in AD 1016.

10. They drew up a treaty dividing England until one of them died.

11. Canute did not have to wait long as Edmund died one month later giving Canute control of the whole country.

12. Canute had a stable, peaceful and prosperous reign.

13. Canute built churches and monasteries and art, trade and justice flourished during his reign.

14. Canute improved English trade by strengthening the English coinage system.

15. Canute was a Christian and went on pilgrimage to Rome in 1027.

16. Canute was so successful that his courtiers were constantly boasting of his power.

17. It is said that Canute became fed up with his courtiers’ constant flattery.

18. He placed his throne on the beach to prove the limits of his powers - that even he could not stop the waves!

19. Canute failed to turn the sea back and got his feet wet and he made his courtiers stay on the beach until they agreed with him.

20. Canute could, however, be ruthless and had his brother-in-law, Ulf, killed because of a game of chess.

21. A courtier put a sword through Ulf whilst he was singing in the choir at church.

22. Canute died 1035 and his empire collapsed as neither of his sons possessed his qualities.