King Canute (Cnut the Great)

Cnut the Great, often referred to as King Canute, was a Viking king who ruled England, Denmark, Norway, and parts of what is now Scotland in the early 11th century. He is best known for his attempts to demonstrate that even a king cannot control the forces of nature. A famous legend involves him commanding the tide to stop, illustrating that even he was subject to the laws of nature. Cnut's reign is noted for unifying and stabilizing the kingdoms, as well as promoting trade and culture during a time of significant change in Europe.