One of the most enduring legends of King Cnut the Great is not of conquest, but of humility. As the ruler of a vast North Sea Empire—encompassing England, Denmark, Norway, and parts of Sweden—Cnut’s authority was immense. His courtiers, eager to flatter him, declared that even the sea would obey his commands. To rebuke their vanity and demonstrate the limits of earthly power, Cnut ordered his throne to be placed on the shore, facing the rising tide. Dressed in royal robes and surrounded by noble