HARDICANUTE [more correctly HARTHACNUT] (c. 1019— son of Canute, king of England, by his wife Emma. On the death of Canute in 1035 the claims of Hardicanute were sup ported by Emma and her ally, Godwine, earl of the West Saxons, in opposition to those of Harold, Canute's illegitimate son, who was backed by the Mercian earl Leofric and the chief men of the north. Godwine held Wessex for a time on Hardicanute's behalf. Harold's party rapidly increased; and early in 1037 he was defi nitely elected king. Emma was driven out and took refuge at Bruges. In 1039 Hardicanute joined her, and together they con certed an attack on England. Next year Harold died; and Hardi canute succeeded. His short reign was marked by great oppres sion and cruelty. He caused the dead body of Harold to be dug up and thrown into a fen; the exaction of a heavy geld for the support of his foreign fleet in Worcestershire, provoked a rising whereupon he burned the city of Worcester to the ground and devastated the surrounding country; in 1041 he permitted Ed wulf, earl of Northumbria, to be treacherously murdered after having granted him a safe-conduct. He died on June 8, 1042.