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: King Cnut the Great fails to halt the incoming tide


King Cnut the Great fails to halt the incoming tide

Cnut the Great (circa 985 or 995-1035), (or Canute), King of Denmark, England, Norway, and parts of Sweden. Henry of Huntingdon, the 12th-century chronicler, wrote (the apocryphal story) of how Cnut set his throne by the sea shore and commanded the tide to halt and not wet his feet and robes. Yet "continuing to rise as usual (the tide) dashed over his feet and legs without respect to his royal person. Then the king leapt backwards, saying: "Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws."

Picture No
10982500
Media ID
48067157
Size
3225px x 4072px (7.9MB)
Credit
© The Russell Butcher Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Source
Illustration from booklet History and the Mustard Pot' for Colman's Mustard
Date
circa 1025

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Apocryphal Canute Cnut Colmans Commanding Commands Eternal Fail Failed Fails Failure Huntingdon Kingship Laws Mustard Obey Obeying Personage Points Respect Retreat Rises Seashore Tidal Tide


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