Who was Harthacanute?
Q: Who was Harthacanute?
A: Harthacanute (also known as Canute the Hardy, Hardicanute, and Hardecanute) was King of Denmark from 1035 to 1042 and England from 1040 to 1042. He was the only son of Canute the Great and Emma of Normandy.
Q: What prevented him from taking up his throne in England?
A: Fighting with Magnus I of Norway stopped him from sailing to England to take up his throne.
Q: Who became regent of England while he was away?
A: His older, illegitimate half-brother, Harold Harefoot, became regent of England.
Q: How did Harthacanute regain his kingdom?
A: After settling the situation in Scandinavia he prepared an invasion of England to take over his kingdom. Harold died, and Harthacanute was able to take back his throne peacefully.
Q: How did people react to Harthacanutes rule?
A: People were unhappy with Harthacanut's rule; he greatly increased taxation rates which led people in Worcester killing two of his men who had been collecting taxes. In response, he burned the city down.
Q: What is the story behind Lady Godiva's ride through Coventry?
A: The story may have originated during Harthacanut's reign when Lady Godiva rode naked through Coventry streets in order persuade a local earl lower taxes imposed by Harthacanut.
Q: Who succeeded him when he died?
A: When he died on 8 June 1042 at Lambeth Edward the Confessor (his mother Emma's son by Ethelred the Unready) became king after being recalled from exile in Normandy and made a member of his household prior to this death
