Harthacnut

King of Denmark

c. 1018 England

8 June 1042 (24) Lambeth, England

Incumbent

King of England and Denmark For the legendary earlier king of Denmark, see Harthacnut I of Denmark. King of Denmark Harthacnut (Danish: Hardeknud; "Tough-knot"; c. 1018  – 8 June 1042), traditionally Hardicanute, sometimes referred to as Canute III, was King of Denmark from 1035 to 1042 and King of England from 1040 to 1042. He was the son of King Cnut the Great (who ruled Denmark, Norway, and England) and Emma of Normandy. When Cnut died in 1035, Harthacnut struggled to retain his father's possessions. Magnus I took control of Norway, but Harthacnut succeeded as King of Denmark and became King of England in 1040 after the death of his half-brother Harold Harefoot. Harthacnut died suddenly in 1042 and was succeeded by Magnus in Denmark and Edward the Confessor in England. Harthacnut was the last Dane to rule England.