Cnut AD 1016-1035 Silver Penny Quatrefoil Type Leicester mint – Rare

Cnut 1016-1035AD Silver Penny Quatrefoil Type rare, Leicester / Aelfwine

S1157, 19mm, 1.04g

Crowned bust left.

Cnut ‘The Great’ – 1016-1035

A prominent Scandinavian prince and junior member of the Danish royal house, Cnut spent much of the early 11^th century as an active participant on raids directed at England. In 1013, his father Swein Forkbeard invaded England and became its king by dint of conquest – though died shortly afterwards. Cnut was forced to retreat back to Denmark, but returned to England in 1015. Defeating the English at Assandun in 1016 and forcing a settlement, Cnut eventually succeeded to the throne of all England. An outwardly pious man, he gave generously to religious houses during his reign and went on pilgrimage to Rome – despite being a murderous bigamist. During his near twenty-year long rule, he came to unite England, Denmark, Norway and part of Sweden into the powerful but short-lived ‘North Sea Empire’.