(known from other works), Steinn Skaptason and Óðarkeptr (unknown). The principal works for Cnut are the three Knútsdrápur by Sigvatr Þórðarson, Óttarr svarti and Hallvarðr háreksblesi, and the Höfuðlausn and Tøgdrápa by Þórarinn loftunga. Cnut also features in two other contemporary skaldic poems, namely Þórðr Kolbeinsson's Eiríksdrápa and the anonymous Liðsmannaflokkr. Cnut's skalds emphasise the parallelism between Cnut's rule of his earthly kingdom and God's rule of Heaven. This is particularly apparent in their refrains. Thus the refrain of Þórarinn's Höfuðlausn translates to "Cnut protects the land as the guardian of Byzantium [God] [does] Heaven" and the refrain of Hallvarðr's Knútsdrápa translates to "Cnut protects the land as the Lord of all [does] the splendid hall of the mountains [Heaven]". Despite the Christian message, the poets also make use of traditional pagan references and this is particularly true of Hallvarðr. As an example, one of his half-stanzas translates to "The Freyr of the noise of weapons [warrior] has also cast under him Norway; the battle-server [warrior] diminishes the hunger of the valcyrie's hawks [ravens]." The skald here refers to Cnut as "Freyr of battle", a kenning using the name of the pagan god Freyr. References of this sort were avoided by poets composing for the contemporary kings of Norway but Cnut seems to have had a more relaxed attitude towards pagan literary allusions. The story of Cnut and the waves This story of Cnut resisting the incoming tide was first recorded by Henry of Huntingdon in his Historia Anglorum in the early twelfth century: This has become by far the best known story about Cnut, although in modern readings he is usually a wise man who knows from the start that he cannot control the waves. See also North Sea Empire Raven banner Viking Age Notes References Citations Sources Thietmar (1962) Chronik: Chronicon; Neu übertragen und erläutert von Werner Trillmich. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft Further reading Scandinavica, An International Journal of Scandinavian Studies, (2018) Vol. 57, No 1, issue on 'Remembering Cnut the Great', External links Canute (Knud) The Great – From Viking warrior to English king Vikingworld (Danish) – Canute the Great (Knud den Store) 990s births 1035 deaths 11th-century English monarchs 10th-century Danish people 11th-century kings of Denmark 11th-century Norwegian monarchs Anglo-Norse monarchs Burials at Winchester Cathedral Danish people of Polish descent English people of Polish descent Christian monarchs House of Knýtlinga House of Wessex Monarchs of England before