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King Cnut commands the tide to retreat (unsuccessfully)
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King Cnut commands the tide to retreat (unsuccessfully)
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 23034912
© Mary Evans Picture Library/Tom Gillmor
Advance Apocryphal Canute Cnut Command Commanding Commands Edge Eternal Failed Huntingdon Laws Obey Personage Point Pointing Points Power Respect Retreat Rise Rises Rising Seashore Stop Throne Tidal Tide Waters Waves Kingship Obeying
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King Cnut, also known as Canute or Knut, reigns supreme over Denmark, England, Norway, and parts of Sweden around the year 1025. In this iconic image, Cnut is depicted commanding the relentless waves to retreat as they approach his throne at the seashore. The apocryphal story of this event was recorded by Henry of Huntingdon centuries later. With a regal and determined expression, Cnut points to the water, ordering it to halt and not wet his feet and robes. However, the unyielding tide continues to rise, crashing over his feet and legs, disregarding the king's command. The failed attempt to control the natural forces of the sea serves as a powerful reminder of the limitations of human power and the transient nature of kingship. Cnut leaps backwards, acknowledging the futility of his efforts and declaring, "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 image encapsulates the complex relationship between power, god, and kingship during the Middle Ages, as well as the enduring human desire to assert control over the natural world. The story of King Cnut and the tide has become a timeless metaphor for the inherent limitations of earthly power and the ultimate sovereignty of the divine.
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