#king knut

[lasaraconor]

[inmyfxith]

Imagine being Ragnar's descendant in Canute’s army

Warnings -> None

Words -> 706

No matter how long you stayed away from Norway, as soon as your feet reached the wooden harbor of Kattegat, you were at home. Many Vikings around you owned your family settlements and other privileges beyond the Northern Sea but not that much knew that you were related to the great Ragnar Lothbrok.

As soon as you received the call, you gathered some of your most trustful men, and together, you sailed to the good old Kattegat. Despite many of your men, you stayed faithful to Odin, and the Gods allowed you to travel the sea in a peaceful journey. Everything around you was just as you had imagined it even if it was a bit different from the stories your father told you about. Stories he learned through his father who knew them through his one.

As the captain of the ship, you gave the orders. Not that numerous compared to the other ships that were accosting, you remained in the shadow, following the troops of another warrior-chief until King Knut’s camp. There, you ordered your men to settle until you had met the king yourself.

In Norway, nobody knew your name and for a good purpose. After the death of Ragnar and after the death of Bjorn Ironside, being a Lothbrok in Kattegat was a dangerous game. Being allowed to enter Knut’s main tent, your hand on the pommel of your sword, you approached before bending the knee as a sign of submission and respect even if he was not your king.

Not recognizing your face, he asked you to introduce yourself and so you did.

“Y/N Y/L/N, King Knut. I and my men originally came from the settlement of Dyflinn and we managed to stay there until now. But when we received your call, it was like a message from the Gods.”

Despite your confidante tone, the king did not seem real to believe you.

“And who are you?” He asked with his deep tone while joined by Harald Sigurdsson who only wanted to know who was ready to fight alongside him. After giving him an annoying glance, you began your speech.

“Just as yours, King Knut, my ancestors were great people. Until now, I did not feel worthy enough to carry their name, their legacy and I want to change that.”

Glancing at you from head to toe, Harald was trying to figure, just as the king, to whom you could be related. After a minute, the young man finally asked.

“And who are you the descendant of?”

“Legendary Ragnar Lothbrok.” The only reaction you receive was a chuckle, of course, they did not believe you. Many people had already come to Norway, claiming they were the new Ivar the Boneless to have a semblance of glory, but it was not your intention. Sighing deeply, you took in your hand the Christian cross that had been hidden behind your shirt for a long time.

“This is the cross of my great-great-grandfather, the one he received from King Alfred the Great himself after being baptized. I am the descendant of the great-grandchild of Ubbe Ragnarsson, grandchild of Ragnar Ubbesson, and child of Y/F/N Ragnarsson. You can disrespect me as much as you want, I don’t care, but you must never insult my family in front of my face.” In only a few minutes, your blood had started to boil in your veins. As you approached the descendant of the first king of all Norway, the hand that held the pommel of your sword had turned white with the tension in your body. Raising his hands above his head to prove he wasn’t a threat for you, Harald glanced at his King, waiting for him to intervene.

Letting out a sigh, Knut still looked suspicious but seeing your reaction, the only thing that came to his mind was that you would make an excellent addition to his army.

"We need good warriors, men and women ready to avenge those who have joined Heaven and Valhalla. If you are who you say you are then you can stay." Relaxing slightly, you nodded in response before leaving his tent.

"I don't know how yet, but I'll prove my point before the Ragnarök takes us all away."

[hi-im-just-a-fan-here]

VINLND SAGA SPOILERS AHEAD

These three frames just give e life. I honestly am so amazed by this manga I have no words

AND THEN THIS FRAME HAPPENES

I do not know what to say other than this is I think the best manga I’ve read so far

[canuterex]

“According to Thietmar of Merseburg, Emma was in London during the siege of 1016, and she may be the lady referred to in the poem Lidsmannaflokkr. William of Jumièges says that Cnut married her after having her brought from the city before the siege ended and giving her weight in gold and silver before the whole army, but his chronology here is suspect, as he places the battle of Auxendunum (presumably Assandum, 18 October) before AEthelred’s death on 23 April, and the more contemporary Chronicle date of mid-1017 for the marriage is preferable. Despite the Encomiast’s tale of how Cnut’s men, searching far and wide for a suitable wife, eventually found her in Normandy, it may be, as Keynes has argued, that Emma had remained in England throughout.

The prime motive behind Cnut’s desire for the union was almost certainly to prevent her sons gaining Norman military assistance, and it may well have occurred in mid-1017 because the preceding months were occupied by negotiations with her brother Richard. The Encomiast mentions the exchange of emissaries, and Ralph Glaber, writing in Dijon before about 1030, thought that the marriage followed an agreement with Richard, and that Cnut at some stage sent the Normans military help, while the Inuention et Mracula Sancti Vulfranni, written in the Norman abbey of St Wandrille around 1053-1054, says that the match had Richard’s consent and support.

[...]  It is entirely likely that negotiations did take place, for Cnut was shrewd enough to appreciate that gaining Emma’s assistance against her sons without Richard’s goodwill would have been to leave the job half done. That he later troubled to marry his sister Estrith to Richard’s sucessor Robert probably also implies that his wife’s co-operation was not alone thought sufficient. Her previous experience as queen of England conceivably added to her attractions, and Swegen’s treaty with Richard may have facilitated the discussions (...). The Encomiast has Emma stipulating that a son of hers, rather than any of his other progeny should be given the succession, and in the circumnstances this seems a plausible feature of the deal [...].”

Taken from: “Cnut England’s Viking King 1016-1035″ by M.K.Lawson

[canuterex]

ＣＮＵＴ ＴＨＥ ＧＲＥＡＴ

“ʟᴇᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴍᴇɴ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴇᴍᴘᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀʟᴇss ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴋɪɴɢs. ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ɢᴏᴅ, ᴡʜᴏᴍ ʜᴇᴀᴠᴇɴ, ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ sᴇᴀ ᴏʙᴇʏ“

[liliana-von-k]

Cecil Beaton self-portrait as King Knut, circa 1915.

[artyartefacts-blog]

[canuterex]

“A.D. 1024-1033. Death of Richard II of Normandy. Canute conquers Olaf of Norway. Olaf is killed by his own people. Malcolm II, Macbeth and Jehmar of Scotland submit to Canute. MS. Laud Misc. 636. 'The Peterborough Chronicle'.”

Source: http://bodley30.bodley.ox.ac.uk:8180/luna/servlet/detail/ODLodl~1~1~47191~118180:Chronicle-of-England--Additions-in-?printerFriendly=1