Hardicanute
[Harthacanute, harthacnut]
1040-42
Danish Line

Hardicanute was the son of Canute and Emma of Normandy. Canute had named him his heir but when he died, Hardicanute was ruling Denmark. Harald, Hardicanute's half-brother, seized power in his absence. Hardicanute set sail for England on an expensive expedition to claim his throne only to find his brother dead when he arrived.

Hardicanute introduced a heavy tax to pay for his fleet and his reign was generally an unpopular one. He named his half-brother Edward (son of Ethelred II and Emma of Normandy) his successor and his death ended the Danish line of English kings.