Harthacanute Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Harthacanute
King of Denmark and England

Reign	17 March 17, 1040 – 8 June 8, 1042
Predecessor	Canute the Great (Denmark) Harold Harefoot (England)
Successor	Magnus I (Denmark) Edward the Confessor (England)
Born	1018 England
Died	8 June 1042
Burial	Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, England
Father	Canute the Great
Mother	Emma of Normandy

Becoming King of Denmark
- Harold Harefoot Takes Over
Reclaiming the English Throne
Harthacanute's Rule in England
- High Taxes and Rebellions
His Death and Successor
Images for kids
See also

Harthacanute (also known as Canute the Hardy) was a king who ruled both Denmark and England in the 11th century. He was born in 1018 and died on June 8, 1042. He was the only son of the powerful King Canute the Great and Emma of Normandy.

Becoming King of Denmark

When his father, Canute the Great, died in 1035, Harthacanute became the King of Denmark. He was known as Canute III there. At the same time, he was also supposed to become King of England. However, he faced a problem: he was busy fighting with Magnus I of Norway. This conflict stopped him from traveling to England to claim his throne.

Harold Harefoot Takes Over

Because Harthacanute was stuck in Scandinavia, his older half-brother, Harold Harefoot, stepped in. Harold was not the rightful heir, but he became the temporary ruler, or regent, of England. By 1037, Harold decided to take the English crown for himself.

Reclaiming the English Throne

Once Harthacanute had sorted out the situation in Scandinavia, he prepared to invade England. He wanted to take back his kingdom. Luckily for him, Harold died before Harthacanute's invasion could happen. This meant Harthacanute was able to return to England and become king peacefully.

Harthacanute's Rule in England

Harthacanute was not a very popular king. Many people found his rule to be very strict.

High Taxes and Rebellions

To pay for his ships and army, Harthacanute greatly increased taxes on the English people. This made many people angry. In 1041, the people of Worcester were so upset that they killed two of Harthacanute's tax collectors. In response, Harthacanute ordered the city of Worcester to be burned down.

There's a famous story about Lady Godiva riding through the streets of Coventry without clothes to convince a local leader to lower taxes. This story might have come from Harthacanute's time, showing how much people disliked the high taxes. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an old historical record, said that Harthacanute "never accomplished anything kingly for as long as he ruled."

His Death and Successor

In 1041, Harthacanute invited his half-brother, Edward the Confessor, to return to England. Edward was the son of Harthacanute's mother, Emma, and her first husband, Ethelred the Unready. Edward had been living away in Normandy. Harthacanute brought Edward into his royal household and likely made him his heir. This was important because Harthacanute was not married and had no children of his own.

Harthacanute died suddenly on June 8, 1042, in Lambeth. Historical accounts say he "died as he stood at his drink, and he suddenly fell to the earth." He was buried at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. After his death, Edward the Confessor became the new King of England.

Preceded by Canute I	King of Denmark as Canute III 1035–1042	Succeeded by Magnus I
Preceded by Harold I	King of England as Harthacanute 1040–1042	Succeeded by Edward the Confessor

Images for kids

Cnut, king of England, Denmark, and Norway, with his sons Harald Harefoot and Harthacnut.
A silver coin (penny) from Harthacanute's reign.
Harthacnut (on the left) meeting the young King Magnus the Good by the Göta älv river.
A painting of Harthacanute by C.N. Overgaard from around 1880.