Canute the Great

Canute the Great

 Danish Knut

(died Nov. 12, 1035) Danish king of England (1016–35), Denmark (1019–35), and Norway (1028–35). He helped his father, Sweyn I, invade England in 1013. Sweyn was accepted as king of England after exiling King Ethelred II but died in 1014; Canute returned and defeated Ethelred's son to win the English throne in 1016. At first he ruled ruthlessly, killing English opponents and appointing Danes in their places, but within a few years he had married Ethelred's widow and was granting earldoms to Englishmen. Canute proved an effective ruler who brought peace and prosperity to England, issued an important law code, and became a strong supporter of the church. With English help he secured the throne of Denmark on his brother's death. His early death and that of his sons led to the restoration of Ethelred's dynasty.