#Harthacnut

[canute-saga]

Twitter April/May Dump

I watched the Vinland Saga stage play five times.

In Twitter site, Thorfinn won as the best character from Vinland Saga, followed by Askeladd, Hild, Knut and Einar

Hild is the father

It was Red's birthday, so I felt like drawing Stan

It was also Myre's birthday

I saw a AO3 tag so ednute, I had to

I love my two kings

and my two queens

and my two princesses (Gunhild from Nutty, Snorri from Finny)

I adore the kids I hope they have their own saga...

...and grow up!

And then I decided to re-draw that girlverse doodle. See ya!

[docpiplup]

The Bastard Kings and their families

This is series of posts are complementary to this historical parallels post from the JON SNOW FORTNIGHT EVENT, and it's purpouse to discover the lives of medieval bastard kings, and the following posts are meant to collect portraits of those kings and their close relatives.

In many cases it's difficult to find contemporary art of their period, so some of the portrayals are subsequent.

1) Harold I of England (?- 1040), son of Knut the Great and his wife Ælfgifu of Northampton

2) Knut the Great (c. 990 – 1035), son of Sweyn Forkbeard and his wife Świętosława of Poland

3) Sweyn Forkbeard (963 – 1014), son Knut Danaást or Harald Bluetooth and his wife Tove or Gunhild

4) Emma of Normandy (c. 984 –1052), daughter of Richard I of Normandy and his wife Gunnor

5) Harthacnut/ Knut III of Denmark (c. 1018 – 1042), son of Knut the Great and his wife Emma of Normandy

6) Gunhilda of Denmark (c. 1020 – 1038), daughter of Knut the Great and his wife Emma of Normandy

7) Holy Roman Emperor Henry III (1016 -1056), son of Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II and his wife Gisela of Swabia

8) Beatrice of Franconia (1037 – 13 July 1061), daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Henry III and his wife Gunhilda of Denmark

9) Edward the Confessor (c. 1003 – 1066), son of Æthelred II of England and his wife Emma of Normandy

10) Ælfred Æþeling (c. 1012–1036), son of Æthelred II of England and his wife Emma of Normandy

[jens-holland]

Wrote a thing inspired by Vikings Valhalla S3E7 when Knut gathers all his potential successors into one room! The tension is rife and the meta historical foreboding was insane.

[blogdemocratesjr]

Harthacnut (1880) by Christen Nielsen Overgaard

Adding this to the stack.

[grayjoy15]

Day 5: Moon - Harthacnut Knutsson

[sleeppaw]

That's why I don't seek out modern-day books. The "Lady MacBeth" one basically made the titular character a whiny French girl, MacBeth a brute and renamed Princes Malcolm and Donalbain. If I ever write a retelling of MacBeth, it will be in either Malcolm or Donalbain's POV and faithful to the play. As some reviewers said, "Why the fuck is there a random Aethelstan cameo?"

So many modern day retellings are just straight up hiding the fact that their authors fucking hate the original classic literature books but still need the marketing validation of writing a diverse retelling lol

[whencyclopedia]

Emma of Normandy

Emma of Normandy (died 1052), the wife of King Aethelred the Unready from 1002 to 1016 and then the wife of King Cnut from 1017 to 1035, was a dominant player in English politics for nearly 50 years. Emma is the first English queen depicted in contemporary artwork, and she also commissioned her own work of history, the Encomium Emmae Reginae. Her lengthy career saw her outlive both of her husbands, but she also lived long enough to see two of her children, Harthacnut (r. 1040-1042) and Edward the Confessor (r. 1042-1066), become English kings.

Background & First Queenship

Emma's year of birth is unknown, but she was born in Normandy to Duke Richard I; her mother, Gunnora, was likely of Danish descent. Emma first enters the historical record in 1002, with her marriage to the English king Aethelred II, "the Unready" (r. 978-1013 and 1014-1016). Aethelred had been king of the English since 978 and already had several children from his first marriage to Aelfgifu of York, who vanished from the historical record around the turn of the millennium.

Emma was honored with the title of queen, which Aethelred's first wife had not received. Emma appointed Norman followers to important positions in England, such as a reeve named Hugh in Exeter as early as 1003. Emma, unlike Aethelred's first wife, also appears on many diplomas from Aethelred's reign. Her sons with the king, Edward and Alfred, appear alongside her as well.

But England was not entirely stable by the time Emma became queen. Viking raids in Britain were common; they had plagued the kingdom since the 980s, but by the 1000s, they had grown far more intense. The Danish king, Swein Forkbeard (r. 986-1014), led particularly large armies in England, raiding throughout the kingdom from 1003-1005 and 1006-1007. Another Danish lord, Thorkell the Tall, overran nearly the entire kingdom from 1009-1012.

Read More

⇒ Emma of Normandy

[blueiscoool]

11th Century Silver Coin Hoard Found in UK

A hoard of coins dating back to the 11th century has been found at the site of a future nuclear power station.

Oxford Cotswold Archaeology discovered a cloth package containing 321 silver coins in mint condition during excavations at Sizewell C on the Suffolk coast.

The team believed the bundle of coins could have been the savings pot of a local figure, fearing regime changes following the coronation of Edward the Confessor in 1042.

Archaeologist Andrew Pegg said he was shaking when he found the coins.

"I was shaking when I first unearthed it, seeing a single coin edge peeking at me," he recalled.

"A perfect archaeological time capsule.

"The information we are learning from it is stunning and I'm so proud to have added to the history of my own little part of Suffolk."

Mr Pegg referred to the collection as "the pasty" due to the coins being wrapped in a cloth bundle which was barely bigger than a Cornish pasty.

The coins date between 1036 and 1044 during the reigns of Harold I, Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor.

A large number of them were minted in London, but others were struck at locations including Thetford and Norwich in Norfolk, as well as more locally in Ipswich and further away in Lincoln and Stamford in Lincolnshire.

The archaeologists said it represented a substantial amount of money to most people of the time and likely belonged to someone of middle status rather than anyone of very high status or national importance.

However, they do not know why the collection was never retrieved.

It was likely the owner was prevented from returning to the location, they potentially died before they could return or they were unable to relocate the exact spot they buried the coins in, it was theorised.

Damian Leydon, site delivery director at Sizewell C, said the find was "extraordinary".

"This project provides a rare and fascinating glimpse into Suffolk's rich history, deepening our understanding of this part of Britain," he added.

"In partnership with Oxford Cotswold Archaeology, we plan to make these discoveries as accessible to the public as possible."

By Alice Cunningham.

[wonder-worker]

"[Emma of Normandy] was one of the nine known children of Richard I of Normandy; almost certainly his daughter by his Danish-descended wife Gunnor and thus the sister of Richard II, who became duke of Normandy after his father in 996, and of Robert Archbishop of Rouen. She was the aunt of dukes Richard III and Robert and great-aunt of Duke William, better known in England as the Conqueror.

In 1002 she came to England to marry King Athelred II, the Unready. Emma was not the English king’s first wife. He had been married before, once if not twice, and already had a large family of six sons and at least four daughters. At the time of the marriage Emma’s French/Norman name was changed for an English one, Aelfgifu. She bore Athelred three children: two sons and a daughter, Edward, the future Confessor, Alfred and Godgifu.

Emma’s marriage took place against the background of the Scandinavian attacks which plagued Athelred’s England. These culminated in Swein of Denmark’s conquest of England in 1013. Emma, her sons and later her husband then took refuge at the Norman court with her brother Richard II. After Swein’s death early in 1014, Athelred returned to rule briefly until his own death in 1016. An armed struggle for the throne ensued between Athelred’s eldest surviving son, Emma’s stepson, Edmund Ironside, and Swein’s son, Cnut. Fierce fighting, the division of the kingdom, then Edmund’s death made Cnut king of all England by the end of 1016.

In 1017 Cnut, the Danish conqueror, married Emma, Athelred’s widow. By this second husband she had two more children, a son Harthacnut and a daughter, Gunnhild, who in 1036 married Henry III, then king of the Romans, future emperor. Again Emma was not a first wife. Cnut already had a union with an English noble woman, Aelfgifu, daughter of a former ealdorman of York, a union which his marriage to Emma [may or may not] have terminated. Before or after 1016 Aelfgifu bore him two sons, Swein and Harold Harefoot. Cnut’s reign is the second stage of Emma’s career in England, and is marked by most references to her in charters and similar documents.

The death of Cnut late in 1035 put an end to this phase and inaugurated a third, dominated by questions concerning the succession to his several kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and England, particularly concerning that to the English throne. During his lifetime Cnut had sent his son Swein and Swein’s mother Aelfgifu to act as regents in Norway, and dispatched Harthacnut to be regent in Denmark. At the time of his father’s death, Harold Harefoot was the only son in England. From late 1035 until 1037 the English throne was once again at issue. Harthacnut remained in Denmark, whilst Harold collected support in England. At first Emma remained at Winchester, with Cnut’s military household and in possession of the royal treasure; Godwine earl of Wessex was close to her. In 1036 her sons by Athelred, Edward and Alfred, returned to England from their refuge in Normandy. Alfred was captured, blinded and died in circumstances which left suspicion attached to both Godwine and Harold. Edward, who had gone to his mother at Winchester, now returned quickly to Normandy. In 1037 Emma’s stepson Harold became king of the English and she was exiled to Flanders; there she lived, enjoying the hospitality of Count Baldwin, until 1039.

In that year her son Harthacnut joined her, and in 1040, on the death of Harold Harefoot, mother and son, accompanied by a fleet, returned to England where Harthacnut was accepted as king. Emma now entered the final stage of her life, as queen-mother. In 1041 Edward was recalled from Normandy, and associated in some way in rule; after Harthacnut’s premature death in 1042, he became king in turn. A year later, in 1043, Edward deprived his mother of much treasure and land. Although Emma was restored to court by 1044, little or no evidence has survived of her activity after this and she disappears from view after 1045. Emma probably lived the rest of her life at Winchester, where she died on 6 March 1052. She was buried there in the Old Minster alongside her second husband, Cnut."

— Pauline Stafford, Queen Emma and Queen Edith: Queenship and Women's Power in Eleventh-Century England

[bjornironsideviking]

“Hello, Björn,” Gisela speaks up, having noticed the smile he gave her as he approached with Halfdan. She hadn’t seen him since their first arrival, and yet she feels as if he remembers their first meeting, her girlish side coming out once more in the presence of true Northmen.

“I never introduced myself to you properly, for that I am sorry. I am Gisela,” she smiles, her Danish accent lingering in her words.

“Daughter of Harthacnut, wife of Uhtred.”

@theladygisela

Björn gives the beautiful woman a little bow of his head, with a warm smile, all the while keeping a wary eye on her husband.

“It’s nice to meet you, Gisela. I’m Björn Ironside, son of Earl Ragnar Lothbrok and Lagertha. I’m sure you’ve seen my mother hanging around a certain Irishman…” He snickers casting a sly look at Finan.

“A couple of my brothers are also joining us on this journey… and my ex, Torvi. All of them great warriors. You’ll be protected.” He gives her a sweet smile.

@theladygisela

[royalwomenwithroyaltitles]

Emma of Normandy, Queen of England, Denmark and Norway (c.984-6 March 1052)

Daughter of Richard I of Normandy, Duke of Normandy and Gunnor

Wife of

Æthelred the Unready (m.1002: died 1016)

Cnut the Great (m.1017: died 1035)

Mother of:

Edward the Confessor, King of the English (c.1003-5 Jan 1066)

Godgifu, Countess of the Vexin and Boulogne (c.1004-c.1049/1065)

Harthacnut, King of the English (c.1018-8 June 1042)

Gunhilda of Denamark, Queen of Germany (c.1020-18 July 1038)

Titles

Queen of the English (100-summer 1013) (3 Feb 1014-23 April 1016) (July 1017-12 Nov 1035)

Queen of Denmark (1018-12 Nov 1035)

Queen of Norway (1028-1 Nov 1035)

[canute-saga]

ThorNuteWeek24 comics

Love Language (Like A Prayer, by Madonna)

Role Reversal (The World Is Mine, by David Guetta)

Kiss (I Want It That Way, by Backstreet Boys)

Soulmates (Bitch, by Meredith Brooks)

Growing Old (Come Sail Away, by Styx)

Ballroom (Heaven Is A Place On Earth, by Braaheim & SBSTN)

Crossover (ambiguous, by GARNiDELiA/Kill la Kill)

[encomium-emmae]

I very much agree with your take on Emma's ending in Season Three. And there is a vast difference between when we first see her versus her ending. In Season One, Emma was fighting (her own words) for a place in the kingdom and for her own survival. The Emma we see at the end of Season Three is confident. She knows her place and does not doubt her place. I love that character evolution for her ❤️

Season 1 was rough on Emma because she was surrounded by men who didn't understand her value and/or didn't listen to her (Æthelred, Edmund), underestimated her (Eadric Streona), or wanted her pushed aside to advance their own position (Godwin).

Lucky for her (and for him, as well), she finally found a man who realized her true worth — and fell in love with her for it! — and was able to help him rule and guided his decisions in strategic and canny ways. (Just look at Godwin's face when he realized all his attempts at negotiation with the cardinal were nothing in comparison with Emma's canny realization of what the pope actually wanted and her recommendation to Canute to carry it out!)

And despite her grief in losing Canute at the end of Season 3, she still had the strength and wits to challenge Godwin when it came to drawing Harefoot to her side. (And historically, we know she succeeds at making both Harthacnut and Edward king.) The woman knows how to play — and win — the game of thrones, is all I'm saying!

[natequarter]

What I’m failing to consider, of course, is that Harthacnut’s main feeling might have been terrible grief that his half-brother had just died. I’m deliberately failing to consider it, because considering it would be a complete waste of time. This was not a loving family – or not in any sense that we’d understand. If it was love, it was tough love. Very tough. I’m thinking specifically of an occasion where someone was blinded. If that’s being cruel to be kind, the resulting kindness is going to have to be amazing. ‘In retrospect, I’m glad you blinded me because…’ I’m struggling to think of anything that would follow that. ‘Because it’s given me the edge in my dream profession of being a piano tuner’?

The blinded person predeceased the invention of the piano by about 650 years, and in fact didn’t last long after the blinding. I suspect it may not have been done that hygienically. We don’t seem to deliberately blind people so much these days, which is good, except for the fact that we now have the know-how to do it much more safely. The royals of the eleventh century would look in awe at the efficiency and cleanliness with which leaders of the modern age would theoretically be able to blind their relatives, and find it hard to believe how seldom they take advantage of that facility.

The blinded man was a half-brother of Harthacnut, but just a stepbrother of Harold Harefoot who ordered the blinding. But I don’t think we should infer that Harefoot would baulk at blinding a half-brother, or a full brother, or anyone at all except possibly himself. You’re either up for things like blinding people or you’re not, and an alarmingly large number of the political leaders of the middle ages fall into the former category, which puts the whole ‘They all went to Eton!’ issue we have with politicians these days into quite a relaxing perspective.

[emma-ofnormandy]

The Family Line

Summary: Pregnant with their second child, Emma blames Canute for all its activity.

Pairing: Canute x Emma

Rating: Teen

A/N: Haven’t had much creative motivation as of late, but when it hit, of course it came in the form of more domestic bliss for these two. Posted on AO3 for registered users.

“Would you desist,” Emma muttered under her breath, her hand absently rubbing at the side of her distended belly as she tried to focus on the ledger her husband had set in front of her. Of all her pregnancies, this one was turning out to be the most active of them, the child growing inside her having decided to demonstrate how healthy it was by leaving her in constant discomfort with its reckless jabs and turning about. If the hectic movements inside were any indication, Emma feared what they could be in store for once the babe arrived.

Their son, Harthacnut, only two, was already proving to be quite the handful, certainly taking after his father, and Emma feared should their second child be of similar mind and temperament, the castle may just be out of a nurse maid before the year was up.

“Everything alright?” came her husband’s distracted inquiry, his gaze fashioned onto the newest map of his empire.

As her condition progressed, she had found that Canute was more inclined to stick close, favoring work amongst maps and ledgers and trusting Agnarr to see about concerns outside the walls of London, rather than venture out himself. Though she considered herself seasoned to childbearing, Emma found his attention endearing and a comfort the closer she drew to her confinement.

“Yes.” Rising from her chair, she set to pacing in front of the hearth, hopeful that movement would settle the small burden within. “It would seem that your child takes issue with me being still for any length of time.”

Looking up, Canute watched her, a flicker of amusement lifting the corner of his mouth. “Is it not also your child?”

Emma grunted, a swift jab taking the breath from her momentarily. “Not when it is acting like this,” she grumbled irritably. “This,” she gestured as movement pressed hard against the confines of her dress, the fabric straining at the seams, “is your doing.”

Eyes sparkling with humor, Canute came around the table and intercepted her pacing, his hands gently wrapping around her middle. Beneath his touch, the small wonder moved furiously, and Emma could feel the way her husband’s breath caught, as if amazed by the miracle within.

“He is strong.”

Basking in the feel of his arms around her, Emma rested her head against his shoulder, letting his body hold some of her weight. “Such confidence,” she murmured, “and what if it turns out you have a daughter beneath your hands?”

“Then she is strong,” he nuzzled the long column on her neck, kissing the spot where her pulse beat steadily. “Like her mother.”

Strength, Emma knew, was only the beginning of what this child would need, and she only hoped that both she and Canute would be able to give their children the best chance. London was still a den of distrust and the fear she felt for both Harthacnut and her unborn child weighed heavily on her mind.

Another round of flurried movement had Emma gasping, her hand pushing against her husband’s, a smile temporarily chasing away the worry that had tried to invade. “Daughter or son, this is the fight of a Viking, and it is not I who boasts that crown.”

“How you have forgotten, minn kaer,” Canute teased, his teeth nipping at the rim of her ear, “there is Viking in the Normans. Are you not a descendent of Rollo?”

It was a connection that she would never forget, one that her father had constantly reminded her of and one she secretly felt gave her the edge she had needed to defend London as she had. But it was not a connection she would accept so freely, especially in this circumstance. “Do not blame my family lineage when yours is far closer to the surface.”

A chuckle vibrated deep in his chest. “So stubborn.” Canute continued to nuzzle her hair, his lips nipping at the sensitive skin. “Our son has just as much you in him as he does me and I am firm in my belief that this one will be no different.”

Emma turned in her husband’s grasp, her arms snaking around his neck, a smile dancing in her eyes as she looked up at him. “They only got the good parts of me.”

“All the parts of you are good,” he murmured, his lips ghosting across hers in a lingering caress. “Especially the parts that are Viking.”

Before she could muster another remark, Canute covered her lips with his and showed her just how much he enjoyed the pieces of herself she would not admit to.

[warsofasoiaf]

What was Harold Hardradas claim to England based on? Was it just 'I want it, so I'll take it'?

It was based on a supposed verbal agreement with Magnus the Good of Norway, who preceded Harald as King of Norway, and Harthacnut, King of England. The agreement stated that if either of them died without issue, the other would take over their kingdom. Harthacnut did indeed die without a son, though he favored supporting Edward the Confessor, and even Magnus believed he'd only have England in a war. After Magnus died, Harald inherited the claim.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King