10: Queen Emma

Upon which the fates will turn in two generations with the Battle of Hastings.

King with two Queens

When Ironside escaped the bonds of Earth some later in that year of 1016, perhaps October then, Dear Albion was ever Danish property in full thereafter seen. The story turns withacht now, ‘pon Canute the Great’s sweet heart’s allegiance to his second wife.

Because Canute had no love for his Saxon strife, he placed Ælfgifu out in stewardship about the marches of the Baltic coast; as far away Canute could send the nagsome shoat,[1] this might. However, strange dost God upon we mortals work. Upon a visit to the Baltic château there, Canute then sired ‘pon her one more issue: Harold, (later Harold Harefoot,) second son of Great Canute and Ælfgifu the Plain. This was 1016.

Presently thereon, the bards do tell us he forsook this bride and left her for another.           

Queen to two Kings

In that same year of 1016, whence impassioned army of King Æthelred of England drove the Danes to impasse ‘cross the Channel, he then passed, this island King, into the fawnèd-colored past. He gravely bloodlessly deceased, sconced in his bed. His widow then was formidable Emma, Royal Consort of the Crown. A leader in the art and homecraft of the Anglishfolk, as well as statecraft was this queen, and well her subjects liked her for her wit and love for them refrained. After great Cnute assembled England’s crown by valor grown (at Assandun, in mid-October, 1016,) Emma made a diplomatic sortie from her Norman home to visit thereupon His Majesty’s new throne. There they dined, and well and truly fell in love. He made her Queen of England properly before the year of 1018 was out. This woman, did he love with chivalry. So smited was he by yon Cupid, he renounced the birthright of his first-born son and second, and then elevated Emma’s issue to the place of geniture! They issued forth a heritor. His name was Harthacnut (say, Cnutesson or A-Half-A-Cnut), but also did the people call him by Canute, for loved they well his ancient sire.

Emma’s brood, the children Edward and his brother Ælfred, left in Normandy. Perhaps they felt some discord with their mother off across the Bay of Brittany? For they felt their lineage enough to claim the throne of Denmark and perhaps the whole the North Sea Empire. But truly Emma favored well these boys for keeping them apart from England’s heart. Those other lines, of Edmund and that Harthacnut, would surely tear them from the mortal fake in such a time should on to Westminster they dare to trake.  So Normandy they stayed.

Canute the Great did die in ’35 at Shaftsbury in Dorset, whilst he wrought a newly listcraft for the order of the Bishoprics of his new island realm. Thus it was no longer safe for Emma there. She went to exile in Bruges to save her fate. Farewell, our pretty Queen!

But in between, her first-born, Harthacnut, did bind himself to Copenhagen as ruler of the Jutes, and made he mootmanship[2] with burghers and the mercantiles there. Contended Harthacnut with Sweden ere at war of naval ken, and well his stalk and taw[3] and ellencraft[4] made good defense for Denmark lend. Mark here which the former king, he called Canute the Great, did raise his boy to primate rank and place upon the heightened ruler-seat his name.

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[1] A fattened yearling hog

[2] Domestic politics.

[3] Stalk and taw: harassment, as in guerilla warfare.

[4] Heroism; heroic deeds.