King Edmund Ironside’s courageous defence of his crown against the invading Danes was undermined by treachery at home.

The invading Danes fought so fiercely that Edmund Ironside, the young English king, threw all caution to the wind.

Edmund Ironside, King of England, and Cnut the Great, King of Denmark, fought hand-to-hand for one of European history’s richest purses.

Edric’s treason handed the crown of England to Cnut the Great, but Cnut was not so poor a judge of character as to believe that a traitor could be trusted.

King Canute enacted a memorable demonstration of the limits of government power.