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| “ | I will create a worldly paradise in this land. A place of peace and prosperity. An ideal country for those who live in suffering... Perhaps the work will not be finished in my generation. But I will be the one to take that first bold step. | „ |
| ~ Canute |
Canute is the major supporting (later antagonistic) character of the 2005 epic historical manga series Vinland Saga and its 2019 anime television series adaptation of the same name.
He is the 17-year-old prince of the Danes. He is initially portrayed as timid and feminine, and he is unable to function without his retainer, Ragnar. These traits, along with his strong Christianity, earn him the mockery of the Vikings with whom he works. After Ragnar's death and the toll of experiencing warfare, however, he has a sharp reversal of personality, becomes strong, kingly, and openly hostile towards religion, and in his Messiah complex, develops an ambition to create utopia on Earth before God's return. Towards this end, he plots to overthrow his father Sweyn and brother Harald while also razing anything he deems unfit for, or resistant to, his paradise.
Physical Appearance[]
Canute is first introduced with long blond hair, large blue eyes, pouty lips, and a feminine-looking face. Up to his late teens, he is often confused for a girl. His beautiful likeness left many of his men wondering if he was the reincarnation of their goddess Freyja.
After becoming king, Canute cut his hair short, forming a bob haircut, and grew some facial hair on his chin. Below his left eye is a scar that was left by Thorfinn. In his next appearance, he cut his hair shorter than before, grew a beard that formed a goatee, and wore a cape and a circlet very often.
Personality[]
Although initially timid, weak and always hiding behind Ragnar, Canute later begins to stick up for himself as Thorfinn constantly puts him down. Wanting revenge on his father for being secretly marked for death, Canute develops a more commanding and demanding personality. This was brought out by Askeladd's assassination of Ragnar, whom he wanted to eliminate as he was standing in the way of Canute's emotional maturity. Even Thorkell once commented on how Canute had the same mysterious eyes as his old comrade Thors, when he finally became a ‘true warrior’.
Later on, Canute becomes a clever and manipulative character who doesn't hesitate to get rid of anyone getting into his way of building a paradise on Earth for the Vikings. He even goes as far as poisoning his own brother to rule Denmark, plotting against Ketil to create a pretext to take his lands and increase his profits and even endangering several innocent people to get those lands.
Canute has also started to suffer hallucinations about his father, to the point of even having conversations with him.
History[]
Background[]
Canute was born in Denmark on 12th of July in the summer of 996. He is a younger son of Sweyn, king of Denmark, who also conquered large parts of England and Wales. He has an older brother Harald and sister Estrid. Although his father is Sweyn, he spent most of his childhood being raised by Ragnar, who was his guardian and treated Canute as a son of his own. He took good care of Canute and sheltered him quite a lot from everyday schemes and politics that are part of the royal court. Canute was raised to be Christian and is portrayed as very devoted to his faith when we get introduced to his character.
Story[]
Canute is introduced as the 17-year-old Danish prince. He is initially portrayed as timid and womanly, and he is unable to function without his retainer, Ragnar. The Vikings led by Askeladd finds employment as mercenaries under Canute's father King Sweyn as his son was kidnapped by the mercenary Thorkell the Tall. Askeladd's group rescue the prince thanks to their soldier Thorfinn who becomes his bodyguard. Askeladd has Canute's caretaker, Ragnar, die in order to make the prince more independent. As Canute questions his love for Ragnar and whether or not he loved him, he has a sharp reversal of personality, becomes strong and kingly, and develops an ambition to create utopia on Earth before God's return. This new attitude allows him to stop the fights between Thorkell and Askeladd's forces and have them under his command. Towards this end of a utopia, Canute plots to overthrow his father, Sweyn Forkbeard, and take the crown of the Danes. Askeladd is ultimately forced to sacrifice himself by killing Sweyn during an audience when the king announces his plan to invade Wales, feigning madness. As Canute kills him, a confused Thorfinn tries to kill the Prince but is stopped by Thorkell. The Prince then takes over Dane-occupied England without question.
As time passes since Sweyn's death, King Canute marches ahead of his troops in the war against Ethelred II for the throne of England. He severely punishes some of his forward troops for pillaging and treating the English peasants badly. Canute then sets alight a series of massive pyres across the countryside to demonstrate his power. The death of other Royals lead Canute to be recognized as Bretwalda, King of England. However, the corrupted actions of the King result into Canute having visions in the form of the head of King Sweyn, who exposes Canute's hidden ambition and accuses him of poisoning his brother Harald so he can be king of Denmark and England.
Canute is faced with a shortage of revenue to fund his domains of Denmark and England and considers a plan to requisition farmland from wealthy landowners to fund the military. Canute prepares to march on Ketil, a Danish landowner from Denmark to take over his land with over 100 men, including the Jomsvikings. After his initial victory, the exiled Thorfinn who has been working as a slave for Ketil approaches Canute's camp to beg him to leave the land alone. Canute believes Thorfinn will follow Askeladd's path and kill him like he did with Sweyn years ago but denies his request. However, as Thorfinn realizes that he cannot convince Canute to alter his path, Canute is bemused by how the former Viking has become into a pacifist and decides to abandon the ways of his father. Canute alters his plan to forcefully seize farms. The King withdraws his troops from England, avoiding a potential uprising and earning the respect of the English nobles in the process.
Abilities[]
Canute is better known as a cunning and charismatic king; his enemies die swiftly and quietly from poison and assassinations due to his clever scheming. Despite his strong hatred for weapons in his youth, Canute takes up sword practice later in the series and becomes a decent and tactical fighter. He has fast reaction when Thorgil tried to assassinate him, It caught Canute offguard but he immediately stopped him with his sword. He also has good aiming in archery. With his North Sea Empire and the vast fleet, he becomes a terrifying force to be reckoned with.
External Links[]
- Canute on the Villains Wiki.
- Canute on the Vinland Saga Wiki.
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 Heroes
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Main Characters Iceland Village Keti's Farm Greenland Village Norwegian Outskirts Arnheid Village Lnu | ||