Harold Harefoot - 1035-1040

Harold Harefoot was the son of Canute and his first wife, Elfgifu. Harold was crowned at Oxford. His was a short and brutal reign. He exiled his stepmother Emma to Bruges, and is generally believed to have blinded and murdered Ethelred's son Alfred, who was a possible rival to the throne.

The brothers began by sharing the kingdom of England after their father's death - Harold Harefoot becoming king in Mercia and Northumbria, and Harthacanute king of Wessex. During the absence of Hardicanute in Denmark, his other kingdom, Harold Harefoot became effective sole ruler. On his death in 1040, the kingdom of England fell to Hardicanute alone.