A description of Cnut can be found within the 13th-century Knýtlinga saga:
Knut was exceptionally tall and strong, and the handsomest of men, all except for his nose, that was thin, high-set, and rather hooked. He had a fair complexion none-the-less, and a fine, thick head of hair. His eyes were better than those of other men, both the handsomer and the keener of their sight.
1015, summer - Cnut set sail to invade England with an army of perhaps 10,000 Vikings in 200 ships. The army was gathered from all the Scandinavian countries. The next fourteen months of battles were fought mostly against the armies of Edmund Ironside, the eldest son of Aethelred.
Cnut the Great
photo courtesy of wikipedia.org
The Peterborough manuscript of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle stated:
[T]here were so many kinds of shields,
that you could have believed
that troops of all nations were present. ... Gold shone on the prows,
silver also flashed on the variously shaped ships. ... For who could
look upon the lions of the foe, terrible with the brightness of gold,
who upon the men of metal, menacing with golden face, ... who upon the
bulls on the ships threatening death, their horns shining with gold,
without feeling any fear for the king of such a force? Furthermore, in
this great expedition there was present no slave, no man freed from
slavery, no low-born man, no man weakened by age; for all were noble,
all strong with the might of mature age, all sufficiently fit for any
type of fighting, all of such great fleetness, that they scorned the
speed of horsemen. [wikipedia on Cnut]
Edmund Ironside and Cnute in the Battle of Assandun.
courtesy of wikipedia.com
Edmund Ironside and Cnute in the Battle of Assandun.
courtesy of wikipedia.com
Cnuts forces moved north across Mercia and was met by Edmund Ironsides English troops. Cnut attempted to put London under seige but Edmund escaped before Knut could close the circle.
1015 - Edmund signs a peace treaty with Cnut deciding to allow Cnut the land north of London with Edmund keeping London and parts south. Unfortunately Edmund Ironside dies November 1016.
1016 - Cnut becomes undisputed King of England.
He consolidates his position by marrying, Emma, the widow of Aethelred.
Ulf joined the alliance of Olav II King of Norway and Anund King of Sweden to oppose his brother-in-law King Knud/Canute.[FMG -Danish Kings]
The Chronicon Roskildense records that "duci Ulf" was killed "in ecclesia Roskildensi" where his widow buried him.[FMG -Danish Kings] The story has been retold so that Ulf is killed in the Roskilde Cathedral while the priest, who had been a friend of Knute afterwards would not allow Knute to enter church without the forgiveness of the sin.
Saxo Grammaticus records that he was killed on the orders of King Knud whom he had allegedly insulted[FMG -Danish Kings] - perhaps also by his disloyalty.
Ulf was the father of Sweyn II Estridson, and thus the ancestor of Danish royal house which would rule Denmark 1047-1375. [FMG -Danish Kings]
1035- After Cnut's death his sons divide his empire. Harold Harefoot takes over Mercia and Northumbria with Harthacanute the king of Wessex. Hardicanute takes a trip to Denmark upon his return into England he discovers that his brother has died and that he is now also King of all of England.
