Harthacnut

Harthacnut, his position in Denmark now secure, did plan an invasion, but Harold died in 1040, and Harthacnut was able to cross unopposed with his mother to take the English throne.

In 1023, Emma and Harthacnut played a leading role in the translation of the body of the martyr St Æelfheah from London to Canterbury, an occasion seen by Harthacnut's biographer, Ian Howard, as recognition of his position as Cnut's heir in England.

The work describes Harthacnut's horror at hearing of his brother's murder, and in Howard's view, was probably influential in finally persuading the cautious Harthacnut to invade England.

War was avoided by the treaty between Harthacnut and Magnus, which Harthacnut agreed to because he had no plausible candidate to rule Norway after Svein's death, and he was in any case temperamentally inclined to avoid campaigns and wars.

According to a later edition of the Encomium, the English took the initiative in communicating with Harthacnut in 1039, possibly when they became aware that Harold had not long to live.

According to Ian Howard, Harthacnut agreed to help Svein recover Norway and planned an invasion in 1036.

According to this account, Magnus I of Norway (reigned 1034–1047) visited the court of Harthacnut in Denmark, received with all official honours.

After Harthacnut's death, the English throne reverted to the House of Wessex in the person of King Edward the Confessor (reigned 1042–1066).

Álfífa had thus intended to poison Magnus, but accidentally killed Harthacnut instead.

Both considered themselves legal heirs to Harthacnut.

But otherwise Harthacnut is treated as a mere footnote in the line of monarchs, while there are many observations on Cnut.

Early life Harthacnut was born shortly after the marriage of his parents in July or August 1017.

Envoys soon crossed the channel to offer Harthacnut the throne.

Five years later, he and his brother, Edward the Confessor, shared the throne of England, after the death of Harold, Harthacnut’s half brother.

Harold managed to win the throne against the superior claim of Harthacnut in this way.

Harthacnut died suddenly in 1042 and was succeeded by Magnus in Denmark and Edward the Confessor in England.

Harthacnut had suffered from bouts of illness even before he became King of England.

Harthacnut presumably consumed large quantities of alcohol.

Harthacnut promised him safe conduct but then colluded in his murder by Siward, who became earl of the whole of Northumbria.

Harthacnut was a close ally of Svein, but he did not feel his resources were great enough to launch an invasion of Norway, and the half-brothers looked for help from their father, but instead they received news of his death in November 1035.