King of England from 1016, Denmark from 1018, and Norway from 1028. Having invaded England in 1013 with his father, Sweyn, king of Denmark, he was acclaimed king on Sweyn's death in 1014 by his Viking army. Canute defeated Edmund (II) Ironside at Assandun, Essex, in 1016, and became king of all England on Edmund's death. He succeeded his brother Harold as king of Denmark in 1018, compelled King Malcolm to pay homage by invading Scotland in about 1027, and conquered Norway in 1028. He was succeeded by his illegitimate son Harold I.
Under Canute's rule English trade improved, and he gained favour with his English subjects by sending soldiers back to Denmark. The legend of Canute disenchanting his flattering courtiers by showing that the sea would not retreat at his command was first told by Henry of Huntingdon in 1130
Canute and Edmund Ironside split up England, and Canute ruled Mercia and Northumbria until he inherited the whole kingdom. The empire collapsed on his death. He was buried at Winchester (britroyals.com)
English Monarch. Reigned from 1016 to 1035 Anno Domini. Remains of his bones are mixed in the chests above the choir of the Cathedral. Identification of the contents of these chests is impossible, however, because during the English civil war in the 17th century, Parliamentarian soldiers threw the original chests down to the ground and smashed them open. The bones were then used to smash the windows of the cathedral. At the restoration of the monarchy, the bones were gathered up and put, mixed up, into the present mortuary chests. Proclaimed king of all England shortly after the death of Edmund II, he also became King of Denmark on the death of his brother Harald in 1018. To avoid dynastic disputes he married Queen Emma, Ethelred the Unready's widow, who bore him a son, Hardicanute. His reign, after the initial conflict, was peaceful and brought stability to the realm.