Cnut, also known as Canute, was the son of the Danish king Sweyn Forkbeard, who had briefly conquered England before his death in 1014. The throne, however, was far from secure, as the Anglo-Saxon nobility was divided between those loyal to the Danish invaders and those who sought to restore the Anglo-Saxon line, particularly the family of Æthelred the Unready, the previous English king. In this year of 1018, Cnut would not only assert his control over the kingdom but also solidify his rule through strategic actions that involved the exile and execution of political rivals.
The Context of Cnut's Rise
Cnut’s journey to power began in the aftermath of his father’s death. His father, Sweyn, had managed to conquer England in 1013, but after his sudden death in 1014, the throne was contested. Æthelred, who had fled to Normandy during Sweyn’s invasion, returned to England and was reinstated as king with the support of the English nobles. However, Æthelred’s reign was marked by inefficiency, heavy taxation, and failure to effectively deal with the Viking incursions. His inability to secure peace or fend off the Danish threat paved the way for Cnut’s eventual conquest.
In 1015, Cnut launched a campaign to claim the English throne, initially as a response to Æthelred’s weak leadership. His military prowess, combined with the strategic alliances he made with important Anglo-Saxon figures, set the stage for his eventual victory. By 1016, following the death of Æthelred and the brief reign of Æthelred’s son Edmund Ironside, Cnut emerged as the ruler of England. However, the full consolidation of his power was still a work in progress. shutdown123