32 Facts About Harthacnut

Harthacnut was the son of King Cnut the Great and Emma of Normandy.

When Cnut died in 1035, Harthacnut struggled to retain his father's possessions.

Magnus I took control of Norway, but Harthacnut succeeded as King of Denmark and became King of England in 1040 after the death of his half-brother Harold Harefoot, king of England.

Harthacnut himself died suddenly in 1042 and was succeeded by Magnus in Denmark and Edward the Confessor in England.

Harthacnut forgave Harthacnut his insubordination in view of his youth but had Ulf murdered.

Harthacnut drove the invaders out of Denmark and established his authority over Norway, returning to England in 1028 and leaving Denmark to be ruled by King Harthacnut.

In 1035, Harthacnut succeeded his father on the throne of Denmark as Cnut III.

Harthacnut was unable to come to England in view of the situation in Denmark, and it was agreed that Svein's full brother, Harold Harefoot, should act as regent, with Emma holding Wessex on Harthacnut's behalf.

In 1037, Harold was generally accepted as king, Harthacnut being, in the words of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, "forsaken because he was too long in Denmark", while Emma fled to Bruges, in Flanders.

The historian M K Lawson states that it is unclear whether Harthacnut was to have England as well as Denmark, but it was probably a reflection of a formal arrangement that mints south of the Thames produced silver pennies in his name, while those to the north were almost all Harold's.

Harthacnut sponsored the Encomium Emmae Reginae, which eulogised her and attacked Harold, especially for arranging the murder of Alfred Atheling in 1036.

Harthacnut had been horrified by Harold's murder of Alfred, and his mother demanded vengeance.

Bishop Lyfing of Worcester was charged with complicity in the crime and deprived of his see, but in 1041 he made his peace with Harthacnut and was restored to his position.

The English had become used to the king ruling in council, with the advice of his chief men, but Harthacnut had ruled autocratically in Denmark, and he was not willing to change, particularly as he did not fully trust the leading earls.

Harthacnut doubled the size of the English fleet from sixteen to thirty-two ships, partly so that he had a force capable of dealing with trouble elsewhere in his empire, and to pay for it he severely increased the rate of taxation.

Harthacnut reacted by imposing a then-legal but very unpopular punishment known as "harrying".

Harthacnut ordered his earls to burn the town and kill the population.

Harthacnut promised him safe conduct but then colluded in his murder by Siward, who became earl of the whole of Northumbria.

Harthacnut had suffered from bouts of illness even before he became King of England.

The Heimskringla reports that when Harthacnut died, Magnus extended his claim to England.

Harthacnut reportedly sent a letter to Edward the Confessor, pressing his claim to the English throne and threatening invasion.

The Heimskringla depicts Edward portraying himself as brother and legal heir to both Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut, while pointing out that he had already won the support "of all the people of the country".

Ian Howard praises Harthacnut for keeping peace throughout his empire, benefiting trade and merchants, and ensuring a peaceful succession by inviting Edward to his court as his heir.

Henry of Huntingdon claimed that Harthacnut ordered for the dining tables of his court to be "laid four times a day with royal sumptuousness" which O'Brien says is likely a popular myth.

Harthacnut's account produced the image of Harthacnut as a "very generous bon viveur".

Harthacnut claimed that Harthacnut insisted on having two dinners and two suppers per day.

Harthacnut's example influenced the English people, who supposedly were to Higden's day gluttonous and extravagant.

Higden so claimed that Harthacnut had a lasting effect on the English national character.

The author considered both Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut to have been sons of Cnut and Emma of Normandy.

Harthacnut portrays Harold as lacking in chivalry, courtesy or honour, and Harthacnut as "a noble knight and stalwart of body, and he greatly loved knighthood and all virtues".

Harthacnut praises Harthacnut for his generosity with food and drink, writing that his table was open "for all who wished to come to his court to be richly served with royal dishes".

Harthacnut concludes by portraying Harthacnut as a loyal son for accepting his mother, Emma, back to court.