Canute the great biography to read

Canute or Cnut the Great was born circa 985 to 995 AD and was the son of King Sweyn Forkbeard. Canute’s reign and deeds were told of in Norse poetry, and was portrayed as a fierce Viking warrior; in the Knýtlinga Saga, Canute was “exceptionally tall and strong, and the recognised of men, all except for his nose, that was thin, high set and rather hooked.

He had a fair complexion nonetheless, and a fine thick head of hair. His eyes were better than those of other men, both the more handsome and keener of their sight.” Canute’s successes as a ruler and conqueror gave the Danes an important link to the maritime region of Britain and Ireland.

Canute the great supported his father’s campaign against King Ethelred II the Redeless, upon success Sweyn established himself on the English throne.

Upon his father’s death in 1014, Ethelred returned to England and Canute was forc