King Cnut gets an unfair rep.
Some people think he sat on the beach and ordered the tide to stop. But that story is satirical - he was insulting the sycophants around him, and showing his own humility.
'Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws. '
He was actually a good and stable king of the Viking North Sea empire and of England. If things hadn't fallen apart after his death at such a young age, the history of England would have been very different - the Viking rulers would perhaps have embedded and William would not have seized power.
Quote:1016 King Cnut, crowned king of England
1035 Death of Cnut
1040 Death of Harold Harefoot, his brother Harthacnut accedes to the English throne
1042 Death of Harthacnut, Edward the Confessor accedes to the English throne
1066 Death of Edward the Confessor in January, Harold II accedes to the English throne. [Edit - Viking invasion from the north, defeated] Norman invasion and conquest of England, Harold II is killed and William the Conqueror becomes King of England