King Cnut

King Cnut (also known as King Canute) ruled over England between 1016 and 1035. He is one of the Anglo-Saxon period's most prominent figures. Born in Denmark in c985–995 AD, and the son of Danish prince Sweyn Forkbeard, Cnut became a fierce Danish warrior king who conquered vast swathes of northern Europe

The ninth-century Alfred Jewel, adorned with the inscription: "Alfred ordered me to be made". This masterpiece of Anglo-Saxon art is thought to have been an aestel, a pointer used to follow text. (Picture by Alamy)

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Edward the Confessor, the penultimate Anglo-Saxon king of England, depicted here in a scene from the Bayeux Tapestry. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

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A 15th-century stained glass window from Canterbury Cathedral, depicting King Cnut. (CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images) (Photo by CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images)

8 things you (probably) didn’t know about King Cnut

Jewelled terminal of aestel, The Alfred Jewel. (Photo by Alamy)

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A section of the Bayeux Tapestry depicting Harold Godwinson being crowned king of England. Harold was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England and was killed by William, Duke of Normandy at the battle of Hastings in 1066. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

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Viking ships arriving in Britain, c1130. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty

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Tostig Godwinson, brother of King Harold II of England, and King Harald Hardrada of Norway (1015 - 1066) receive the submission of the city of York, 1066. Shortly afterwards, they were both killed at the nearby Battle of Stamford Bridge. Engraving by L. Gruner after D. Maclise RA. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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A scene depicted on the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

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Section of the Bayeux Tapestry depicting a woman and child fleeing from a burning house. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

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A portrait of Cnut holding a sceptre. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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Detail of a Viking helmet from grave one at Vendel, Uppland, Sweden. In the 860s and 870s, the Vikings would bring war to England’s four kingdoms on a massive scale. (Photo by CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images)

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Life of the Week: King Cnut

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Cnut’s invasion of England: setting the scene for the Norman conquest

Medieval ploughmen ploughing with oxen

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