Cnut - BBC 'In Our Time'

Posted on 7 April 2023

Professor Elizabeth Tyler (Department of English and Related Literature/Centre for Medieval Studies) and Dr Pragya Vohra (Department of History/Centre for Medieval Studies) recently took part in the BBC podcast 'In Our Time' talking about Cnut.

Canute', 18th century. Cnut the Great (c995-1035), also known as Canute, King of Denmark, England and Norway; together often referred to as the North Sea Empire. He won the throne of England in 1016. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector via Getty Images) Image provided by Getty Images.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discussed the Danish prince who became a very effective King of England in 1016.

BBC 'In Our Time' podcast

Cnut inherited a kingdom in a sorry state. The north and east coast had been harried by Viking raiders, and his predecessor King Æthelred II had struggled to maintain order amongst the Anglo-Saxon nobility too. Cnut proved to be skilful ruler. Not only did he bring stability and order to the kingdom, he exported the Anglo-Saxon style of centralised government to Denmark. Under Cnut, England became the cosmopolitan centre of a multi-national North Atlantic Empire, and a major player in European politics.