The Heimskringla on Canute the Great

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 139. Here Begins The Story Of Canute The Great.

• attestation: Canute the Great (also called Canute the Old) was king of England and Denmark, son of Svein Haraldson Forkedbeard.

  "During this time Canute the Great, called by some Canute the Old, was king of England and Denmark. Canute the Great was a son of Svein Haraldson Forkedbeard"

• attestation: Canute conquered England by warfare and after long struggle subdued the country, then claimed hereditary right to Norway.

  "Canute the Great had conquered England by blows and weapons, and had a long struggle before the people of the land were subdued. But when he had set himself perfectly firm in the government of the country, he remembered that he also had right to a kingdom which he had not brought under his authority; and that was Norway"

• attestation: Canute's kingdom had such perfect peace that no man dared break it; the country kept its old laws.

  "In his whole kingdom peace was so well established, that no man dared break it. The people of the country kept the peace towards each other, and had their old country law"

• attestation: Canute drew more revenue and made greater presents than other kings, with splendid courts and magnificent dwellings.

  "Canute the Great drew scat and revenue from the people who were the richest of all in northern lands; and in the same proportion as he had greater revenues than other kings, he also made greater presents than other kings"

• attestation: Earl Hakon urged Canute to try to get Olaf to surrender Norway or agree to divide it, and many supported his views.

  "he carried it to the king, and begged of him to try if King Olaf would not surrender the kingdom, or at least come to an agreement to divide it; and many supported the earl's views"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 140. Canute'S Message To King Olaf.

• attestation: Canute sent ambassadors from England to King Olaf in Tunsberg around spring 1025 with his letter and seal.

  "Canute the Great sent men from the West, from England, to Norway, and equipped them magnificently for the journey. They were bearers of the English king Canute's letter and seal. They came about spring (A.D.

1025. to the king of Norway, Olaf Haraldson, in Tunsberg"

• attestation: Canute's letter claimed all Norway as his property by hereditary right and offered peace if Olaf would become his vassal and pay scat.

  "King Canute considers all Norway as his property, and insists that his forefathers before him have possessed that kingdom; but as King Canute offers peace to all countries, he will also offer peace to all here"

• attestation: Canute's messengers told Sigvat that Canute was so mild he pardoned chiefs who showed obedience, no matter how much they had acted against him.

  "King Canute is so mild that however much a chief may have done against him, he is pardoned if he only show himself obedient"

• attestation: Two kings from Fife in Scotland had recently come to Canute begging peace, and he pardoned them and let them keep their lands.

  "It is but lately that two kings came to him from the North, from Fife in Scotland, and he gave up his wrath against them, and allowed them to retain all the lands they had possessed before, and gave them besides very valuable gifts"

• attestation: Canute retorted that Olaf guessed wrong about eating kail and would show there was something else under his ribs.

  "King Olaf guesses wrong, if he thinks I shall eat up all the kail in England; for I will let him see that there is something else than kail under my ribs, and cold kail it shall be for him"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 142. King Canute'S Ambassadors To Onund Of Svithjod.

• attestation: King Canute came to Denmark in autumn and remained with a numerous army all winter 1026.

  "In autumn King Canute the Great came to Denmark, and remained there all winter (A.D. 1026) with a numerous army"

• attestation: Canute learned that the Swedish and Norwegian kings were exchanging messages and concerting plans.

  "It was told him that ambassadors with messages had been passing between the Swedish and Norwegian kings, and that some great plans must be concerting between them"

• attestation: Canute sent ambassadors with gifts to King Onund, offering peace and urging him to stay out of the conflict with Olaf.

  "King Canute sent messengers to Svithjod, to King Onund, with great gifts and messages of friendship. He also told Onund that he might sit altogether quiet in this strife between him and Olaf the Thick"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 144. Meeting Of King Olaf And King Onund.

• attestation: Canute left his son Hardaknut to rule Denmark with Earl Ulf when he departed for England.

  "King Canute made ready to go over to England with his forces, and left his son Hardaknut to rule in Denmark, and with him Earl Ulf"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 156. Of King Canute The Great.

• attestation: King Canute heard in England of Olaf's levy and ravaging of Denmark, and began gathering a great army and fleet.

  "King Canute had heard in England that King Olaf of Norway had called out a levy, and had gone with his forces to Denmark, and was making great ravages in his dominions there. Canute began to gather people"

• attestation: Earl Hakon was second in command of Canute's entire force.

  "Earl Hakon was second in command over the whole."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 157. Of King Canute'S Ship The Dragon.

• attestation: Canute's dragon-ship had sixty banks of rowers with a completely gilded head.

  "He himself had a dragon-ship, so large that it had sixty banks of rowers, and the head was gilt all over."

• attestation: Both ships' sails were striped in blue, red, and green, with the vessels painted above the waterline.

  "The sails of both were in stripes of blue, red, and green, and the vessels were painted all above the water-stroke"

• attestation: Canute sailed from England with his vast force to Denmark, arriving at Limfjord where a large army of Danish men was already gathered.

  "King Canute sailed with this vast force from England, and came with all his force safely to Denmark, where he went into Limfjord, and there he found gathered besides a large army of the men of the country."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 158. Hardaknut Taken To Be King In Denmark.

• attestation: Earl Ulf Sprakalegson was made protector of Denmark when Canute went to England, with the king's son Hardaknut entrusted to his care.

  "Earl Ulf Sprakalegson had been set as protector over Denmark when King Canute went to England, and the king had intrusted his son Hardaknut in the earl's hands."

• attestation: Earl Ulf claimed Canute had expressed his will that the Danes should make Hardaknut king over Denmark.

  "the earl immediately gave it out that King Canute had, at parting, made known to him his will and desire that the Danes should take his son Hardaknut as king over the Danish dominions."

• attestation: Earl Ulf produced what he claimed was King Canute's letter and seal confirming Hardaknut should be king.

  "the earl produced King Canute's letter and seal, confirming all that the earl asserted."

• attestation: Canute told Hardaknut to lay down his mock title of king, and the boy submitted by placing his seal on his father's knee.

  "When they met he fell at his father's feet, and laid his seal, which accompanied the kingly title, on his knee. King Canute took Hardaknut by the hand, and placed him in as high a seat as he used to sit in before."

• attestation: Canute ordered Earl Ulf to assemble his men and ships and come to him before they could discuss reconciliation.

  "King Canute ordered him to tell the earl to assemble his men and ships, and come to him, and then they would talk of reconciliation."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 159. Foray In Scania.

• attestation: Canute's war force was one and a half times larger than the combined forces of both kings.

  "He had a War-force which was one half greater than that of both the kings together."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 160. Battle In Helga River.

• attestation: King Onund's spies spotted Canute's fleet approaching towards evening, and Onund ordered war-horns sounded.

  "King Onund's spies saw King Canute coming sailing along, and he was not far off. Then King Onund ordered the war-horns to sound"

• attestation: The released floodwater carried huge trees into Canute's ships, damaging all they struck, and drowning men on shore.

  "the water came rushing over them like a waterfall, carrying huge trees, which drove in among their ships, damaging all they struck; and the water covered all the fields. The men on shore perished"

• attestation: Canute's great dragon-ship was driven by the flood among Olaf's and Onund's ships, which attacked it from all quarters.

  "The great dragon, which King Canute himself was in, drove before the stream; and as it could not so easily be turned with oars, drove out among Olaf's and Onund's ships."

• attestation: Canute's dragon was so high-hulled it was like a castle, with a numerous and chosen crew that made it hard to attack.

  "the ship was so high in the hull, as if it were a castle, and had besides such a numerous and chosen crew on board, well armed and exercised, that it was not easy to attack her."

• attestation: Earl Ulf arrived with his fleet to reinforce Canute, after which the battle began in earnest.

  "After a short time also Earl Ulf came up with his fleet; and then the battle began, and King Canute's fleet gathered together from all quarters."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 162. Of King Canute And Earl Ulf.

• attestation: King Canute returned to Seeland after learning much of the opposing fleet had dispersed, anchoring in the Sound.

  "when he heard that a great part of the fleet had sailed away from the kings, he turned back with his forces to Seeland, and lay with his whole fleet in the Sound"

• attestation: Canute rode to Roeskilde the day before Michaelmas, where Earl Ulf had prepared a feast for him.

  "King Canute himself, the day before Michaelmas, rode with a great retinue to Roeskilde. There his brother-in-law, Earl Ulf, had prepared a great feast for him."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 163. Of The Earl'S Murder.

• attestation: Canute made a false chess move; when Earl Ulf took his knight, Canute replaced the piece and demanded a different move.

  "the king made a false move, at which the earl took a knight from the king; but the king set the piece again upon the board, and told the earl to make another move"

• attestation: Earl Ulf overturned the chessboard in anger and left; Canute called him 'Ulf the coward.'

  "the earl grew angry, threw over the chess-board, stood up, and went away. The king said, "Runnest thou away, Ulf the coward?""

• attestation: Earl Ulf retorted that Canute would have run farther at Helga river, and that he was not called coward when he rushed to save the king from the Swedes.

  "Thou wouldst have run farther at Helga river, if thou hadst come to battle there. Thou didst not call me Ulf the coward, when I hastened to thy help while the Swedes were beating thee like a dog."

• attestation: The next morning, Canute sent his footboy to kill Earl Ulf, but the boy returned saying Ulf had gone to Saint Lucius' church.

  "The following morning while the king was putting on his clothes he said to his footboy, "Go thou to Earl Ulf, and kill him.""

• attestation: After the murder, Canute bestowed great property on Saint Lucius' church, giving it a large domain.

  "when the king came to the church he bestowed on it great property, so that it had a large domain, by which that place was raised very high"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 166. Treachery Towards King Olaf.

• attestation: King Canute maintained spies in King Olaf's army who offered men presents and favor in exchange for promises to support Canute.

  "King Canute had always spies in King Olaf's army, who entered into conversation with many of his men, offering them presents and favour on account of King Canute."

• attestation: Many of Olaf's men allowed themselves to be seduced, promising fidelity to Canute and to bring Norway under his control.

  "Many allowed themselves to be seduced, and gave promises of fidelity, and to be King Canute's men, and bring the country into his hands if he came to Norway."

• attestation: Canute was extraordinarily generous, giving gifts freely to anyone with spirit, with generosity greatest toward those from farthest away.

  "every man who came to him, and who he thought had the spirit of a man and would like his favour, got his hands full of gifts and money. On this account he was very popular, although his generosity was principally shown to foreigners, and was greatest the greater distance they came from."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 168. Harek Of Thjotta'S Voyage.

• attestation: Canute's watchmen mistook Harek's disguised ship for a herring or salt vessel, deeply loaded and sun-burnt grey.

  "Canute's watchmen saw the ship, they talked with each other about what ship it might be, and made the guess that it must be one loaded with herrings or salt"

• attestation: Canute recognized the ship was likely Harek's, saying King Olaf was too prudent to sail alone through the fleet.

  "King Canute replies, that King Olaf was too prudent a man to sail with a single ship through King Canute's fleet, and thought it more likely to be Harek of Thjotta"

• attestation: Many believed Canute and Harek had already made a secret friendship agreement.

  "Many believed the truth to be that King Canute knew of this expedition of Harek, and that it would not have succeeded so if they had not concluded a friendship beforehand with each other"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 171. Of Erling Skjalgson And His Sons.

• attestation: Canute's messengers traveled through Norway distributing money to buy support, with much assistance from Erling.

  "With Erling went messengers from King Canute well provided with money; and in winter they travelled through all the country, paying the money which King Canute had promised"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 177. King Olaf Sends For His Ships And Goods.

• attestation: The mission to Gautland progressed slowly because King Canute had fitted out an army of no fewer than 1200 vessels throughout the Danish dominions in spring, making the Sound impassable.

  "King Canute had in spring fitted out an army throughout the whole of the Danish dominions, and had no fewer than 1200 vessels."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 178. King Olaf'S Counsels.

• attestation: News reached Norway that King Canute had assembled an immense armament through all Denmark to conquer Norway, making the people less willing to join King Olaf.

  "The news came to Norway that King Canute had assembled an immense armament through all Denmark, with which he intended to conquer Norway. When this became known the people were less willing to join King Olaf"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 180. King Canute'S Expedition To Norway.

• attestation: Canute the Great gathered forces at Limfjord and sailed his entire fleet to Norway.

  "Canute the Great collected his forces, and went to Limfjord. When he was ready with his equipment he sailed from thence with his whole fleet to Norway"

• attestation: Canute crossed Folden and landed at Agder, where he summoned a Thing and was accepted as king.

  "crossed Folden, and landed in Agder, where he summoned a Thing. The bondes came down from the upper country to hold a Thing with Canute, who was everywhere in that country accepted as king"

• attestation: Canute took hostages from the bondes and placed his own men over the districts.

  "he placed men over the districts, and took hostages from the bondes, and no man opposed him"

• attestation: Canute promised Erling rule over all territory between Stad and Rygiarbit.

  "Canute promised Erling the whole country between Stad and Rygiarbit to rule over"

• attestation: Canute proceeded to Throndhjem and was chosen king of all Norway at a Thing of eight districts at Nidaros.

  "In Throndhjem he called together a Thing for the eight districts, at which King Canute was chosen king of all Norway"

• attestation: Canute granted Thorer and Harek great fiefs and rights to the Lapland trade.

  "King Canute gave them great fiefs, and also right to the Lapland trade, and presented them besides with great gifts"

• attestation: Canute enriched all who supported him with fiefs, money, and increased power.

  "He enriched all men who were inclined to enter into friendly accord with him both with fiefs and money, and gave them greater power than they had before"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 181. Of King Canute.

• attestation: Canute appointed his kinsman Earl Hakon as governor-in-chief of all Norway.

  "he made proclamation, that he made his relation Earl Hakon the governor-in-chief of all the land in Norway that he had conquered in this expedition"

• attestation: Canute gave his son Hardaknut the title of king and dominion over all Denmark.

  "he led his son Hardaknut to the high-seat at his side, gave him the title of king, and therewith the whole Danish dominion"

• attestation: Canute took hostages from all lendermen and great bondes in Norway to secure their fidelity.

  "King Canute took as hostages from all lendermen and great bondes in Norway either their sons, brothers, or other near connections"

• attestation: Canute promised Einar would be the greatest man in Norway below the highest dignity.

  "promised that Einar should be the greatest and most important man in Norway, among those who did not hold the highest dignity"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 182. Of Thorarin Loftunga.

• attestation: Canute threatened to hang Thorarin if he did not produce a drapa by the next day.

  "ordered him to bring the next day a drapa, or long poem, by the time he went to table; and if he failed to do so, said the king, "he shall be hanged for his impudence in composing such a small poem about King Canute.""

• attestation: Thorarin's drapa compared Canute to Jove as guardian of his realm.

  "Canute protects his realm, as Jove, Guardian of Greece, his realm above."

• attestation: Canute rewarded Thorarin with fifty marks of silver, and the poem was called the Headransom.

  "King Canute rewarded him for the poem with fifty marks of silver. The poem was called the "Headransom" ("Hofudlausn")"

• attestation: The Togdrapa describes Canute's fleet sailing from Limfjord past Adger, Lister, Egersund, Stad, and Stein to Throndhjem.

  "Out on the sea, from Limfjord's green, My good, my brave friend's fleet is seen. The men of Adger on the coast Tremble to see this mighty host"

• attestation: According to the Togdrapa, Canute bestowed the throne of Norway on his sister's son.

  "There this great king of Jutland race, Whose deeds and gifts surpass in grace All other kings, bestowed the throne Of Norway on his sister's son."

• attestation: The Togdrapa states Canute gave his own son the crown of Denmark.

  "To his own son he gave the crown (This I must add to his renown) Of Denmark--land of shadowy vales"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 183. Of The Messengers Sent By King Olaf For His Ships.

• attestation: Upon learning of Canute's fleet, Olaf's men sailed west through the Sound and north to Viken to deliver the ships.

  "when they heard that King Canute had gone to Norway they sailed west through the Sound, and then north to Viken to King Olaf, to whom they delivered his ships"

• attestation: Canute held Things in every district on his return south, binding the country by oath and taking hostages.

  "he held a Thing in each district, and in every Thing the country was bound by oath in fealty to him, and hostages were given him"

• attestation: Canute conquered Norway without a battle and now ruled three kingdoms.

  "King Canute then returned south to Denmark, after having conquered Norway without stroke of sword, and he ruled now over three kingdoms"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 196. Of Bjorn The Marshal.

• attestation: King Canute's messengers offered Bjorn friendship and warned him that staying loyal to the exiled Olaf was futile, since Olaf was separated from them and they had no aid against Canute.

  "King Canute," says he, "has heard much of thee, and that thou hast been long a follower of King Olaf the Thick, and hast been a great enemy of King Canute; and this he thinks not right, for he will be thy friend"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 205. Of Einar Tambaskelfer.

• attestation: Canute told Einar he had already promised the kingdom of Norway to his son Svein in Denmark, offering Einar only the title of lenderman with great fiefs instead.

  ""I have now," said he, "sent men and tokens to my son Svein in Denmark, and promised him the kingdom of Norway; but thou shalt retain my friendship, and get the dignity and title which thou art entitled by birth to hold.""

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 252. Of The Beginning Of King Svein Alfifason'S Government.

• attestation: Svein was the son of King Canute and Alfifa (daughter of Earl Alfrin) and had been appointed to govern Jomsborg in Vindland before being summoned to take charge of Norway.

  "Svein, a son of King Canute, and of Alfifa, a daughter of Earl Alfrin, had been appointed to govern Jomsborg in Vindland. There came a message to him from his father King Canute, that he should come to Denmark; and likewise that afterwards he should proceed to Norway, and take that kingdom under his charge"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 261. Of The Throndhjem People.

• attestation: King Svein, son of Canute the Great, ruled Norway for some years but was a child in both age and understanding, with his mother Alfifa wielding most of the actual power.

  "King Svein, the son of Canute the Great, ruled over Norway for some years; but was a child both in age and understanding. His mother Alfifa had most sway in the country"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 6. Death Of King Canute The Great And His Son Svein.

• attestation: King Svein, son of Canute, traveled to Denmark

  "King Svein, Canute's son, went to Denmark, as before related, and took"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn

• attestation: Canute the Great died in England on November 13th at age forty and was buried at Winchester

  "King Canute the Great died in England, the 13th November, forty years old, and was buried at Winchester."

• attestation: Canute reigned over Denmark for twenty-seven years, over Denmark and England together for twenty-four years, and over Norway for seven years

  "He had been king of Denmark for twenty-seven years, and over Denmark and England together twenty-four years, and also over Norway for seven years."

• attestation: Canute's son Harald became king of England after his father's death

  "King Canute's son Harald was then made king in England."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 18. Of The English Kings.

• attestation: King Harald of England died in 1040, five years after his father Canute, and was buried beside him at Winchester

  "The king of the English, King Harald, died (A.D. 1040) five years after his father King Canute, and was buried beside his father at Winchester."