A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library . cover his kingdom on Sweyns sudden death, in 1014, wasfrustrated by the latters great son, Canute (Cnut). Aethelred him-self died of a broken heart, in 1016. His son, Edmund Ironsides,the bravest and best of the English kings since Alfred, fouglit sixgreat battles against the invaders in seven months, and then con- 92 FRANCE AND ENGLAND UNTIL THE TWELFTH CENTURY. sented to a division of the kingdom. Wlien he, too, died, in 1016,Canute was recognized as sovereign of all the land. King Canute, the Great (lOl
A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library . cover his kingdom on Sweyns sudden death, in 1014, wasfrustrated by the latters great son, Canute (Cnut). Aethelred him-self died of a broken heart, in 1016. His son, Edmund Ironsides,the bravest and best of the English kings since Alfred, fouglit sixgreat battles against the invaders in seven months, and then con- 92 FRANCE AND ENGLAND UNTIL THE TWELFTH CENTURY. sented to a division of the kingdom. Wlien he, too, died, in 1016,Canute was recognized as sovereign of all the land. King Canute, the Great (lOlG-1035), who united the cro-v\Tisof Denmark and Norway with that of England, is one of the fore-most sovereigns of the Middle Ages. At the head of a barbarouspirate-peojale, he fully appreciated the blessing of civilized culture;reared in heathenism, he recognized in Christianity the mistress ofthe future. His purpose was to redeem the Northmen from barbar-ism, through both influences. He accepted Chiistianity, therefore,and in 1026 made a pilgrimage to Rome, striving in every way to. Fio. 29. — Seal ot Edward the Coiifessdr. : SIGILLVM EADVVARDIANGI^ORViVI BASILEI t. (From an iinpiessioii in the Britisli Museum.) assuage the mutual hatred of the English and the Danes, and toaccustom them to live side by side in peace. l(ir these ends wererequired an earnest will, a firm but not ungentle hand, and impartialstrictness in dealing with both peoples. All this Canute possessedin abundant measure, so that even the Anglo-Saxons accommodatedthemselves to their fate, and enjoyed the peace and order which theDanish rule — rigorous but just — secured them. By marryingAethelreds widow, the Norman Emma, he thought to pave the wayfor the reconcihation of all national difficulties. But even from thisthere arose new misfortunes. FROM CANUTE TO HAROLD. 93 For when Canute, in 1035, succumbed to an early death, thereat once ajjjjeared a triple schism in the kingdom. Not only did theA
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