King Harold I Harefoot was the eldest son of Cnut the Great and Aelfgifu of Northampton. He inherited the throne while his brother, the preferred heir Harthacnut, was away in Denmark. During his reign, Harold struggled for power, clashing with the church. He died while his brother was preparing to invade England, to take back his rightful throne.

King Cnut the Great was the second son of Sweyn Forkbeard and Gunnhilde of Poland. He served in his father’s army as a teenager in England, gaining valuable experience that would later serve him well. Cnut was an excellent leader, with both the ferocity of a powerful warlord and the maturity of a great king. His determination and military might enabled him and his family to become kings of England and Scandinavia, in one of the great dynasties of the time. But, as with many before him, his power and empire would not last.