Canute
or CNUT (ka-nūt', knut), King of England and Denmark, mark, succeeded his father Sw Swegen or Sweyn on his death in England in 1014 A. D., and confirmed the Danish power in England.
He began by devastating the E. coast, and extended his ravages in the S., where, however, he failed to establish himself until after the assassination of Edmund Ironside, when he was accepted king of the whole of England (1017).
Canute, who began his reign with barbarity and crime, afterward became a humane and wise monarch. He restored the English customs at a general as sembly, and insured to the Danes and English equal rights and equal protection of person and property, and even preferred English subjects to the most important posts. His power was confirmed by his marriage with Emma, Ethelred's widow. At At Harold's death in 1018 he gained Denmark; in 1028 he CAP conquered Norway; and in 1031 he made Malcolm of Scotland admit his superiority. Sweden also was vassal to him. He died in 1036 at Shaftesbury, leaving Norway to his eldest son, Sweyn; to the second, Harold, England; to the third, Hardicanute, Denmark.