Cnut Danish, c.990 – 1035
Sometimes known as Cnut the Great, this Danish triple monarch was the son of Sweyn Forkbeard. He first became king of England in 1016 after invading and conquering the Anglo-Saxon kingdom. He ruled England firmly for almost 20 years but also expanded his power to become king of Denmark in 1018 and king of Norway from 1028. The three kingdoms (along with a small part of Sweden) were briefly united under Cnut with his territories being known as the ‘North Sea Empire’.
Despite his power, Cnut is best known today as
