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King Cnut the Great fails to halt the incoming tide
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King Cnut the Great fails to halt the incoming tide
Cnut the Great (circa 985 or 9951035), (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." Date: circa 1025
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Media ID 14236015
© The Russell Butcher Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
11th Advance Apocryphal Canute Cnut Colmans Command Commanding Commands Edge Eternal Fail Failed Fails Failure Huntingdon Laws Mustard Obey Personage Point Pointing Points Power Respect Retreat Rise Rises Rising Seashore Stop Throne Tidal Tide Waves Kingship Obeying
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EDITORS COMMENTS
"King Cnut the Great, also known as Canute, ruled as King of Denmark, England, Norway, and parts of Sweden around the turn of the 11th century. This iconic image depicts the legendary story of Cnut's attempt to command the tide, as recounted by the 12th-century chronicler Henry of Huntingdon. According to the tale, Cnut set his throne by the seashore and ordered the waves to halt and not wet his feet and robes. However, the relentless tide continued to rise, crashing over his feet and legs despite his royal command. In a moment of humility, Cnut is said to have leapt backwards and declared, '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.' This powerful image serves as a poignant reminder of the limits of human power and the supremacy of the natural world, a message that resonates through the centuries." Date: Circa 1025 Keywords: history, pot, mustard, Colmans, events, power, God, kingship, king, Canute, Cnut, commanding, command, commands, waves, tide, retreat, failed, stop, advance, water, throne, sea, seashore, tidal, points, pointing, point, rise, rising, rises, respect, royal person, personage, obey, obeys, obeyance, obeying, eternal law, laws, Henry Huntingdon, story, apocryphal, fail, fails, failure, 11th century.
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