Canute I of Denmark (A World Without Norway)

Canute I, also known as Harthacnut or Harthacnut I, was a Danish viking warrior and prince who conquered and united the lands that are now Denmark, with the assistance of the Hordalandic Yngling dynasty. Canute was the first King of Denmark according to the Yngling Sagas. While some historians debate the legitmacy of his existence, Canute is still included on the list of Danish rulers.

Canute was born sometime in the late ninth century (commonly believed to be 880) as a son of the legendary viking chieftain Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and grandson of Ragnar Lothbrok. According to the Yngling Sagas, Canute was the ruler of the island of Zealand. According to his descendant, King Sweyn II of Denmark, Canute was deposed by the Swedish cheiftain Olaf the Brash. Canute fled his Kingdom in Zealand to Hordaland, where he took refuge with King Harald Fairhair.

The then ruling family of Hordaland, the Yngling dynasty, held deep hatred towards the Swedes due to the flight of King Halfdan the Mild, and they supported Canute's desire to restore his rule in Zealand. With a the help of the Ynglings and Zealandic expats (both peasants and nobles), Canute was able to build up an army to attack the Olaf dynasty in Zealand. In 909, Canute and his army landed in Jutland. His plan was to unite Jutland with the Danish islands in the west Baltic Sea and Kattegat. It was hoped that this would end Swedish domination in the region.

In the next three years, Canute and his army slowly conquered the islands. In 912, Canute and his soldiers finally landed on Zealand. The ruler of Zealand, Sigtrygg Gnupasson, also gathered an army of locals to combat the Yngling-supported forces.