King Canute was the ruler of England and Denmark from 1016 to 1035. After a stormy youth, he became a devout Catholic and a great king. He reigned with justice and peace. Of course, there were many who paid their just respects to the devout monarch, but there were some who honored him for other motives. In an attempt to win for themselves greater favor with the King, they tried to flatter Canute, loudly proclaiming his glory and majesty. As often happens in such cases, they very rapidly began to exaggerate his power and lordship. In fact, they went so far as to portray him as not only the King of England, but also the Lord and Ruler of the sea.

 “O Great King,” they told him, “The very elements are subject to you!”

Canute raised an inquiring eyebrow. The sea was subject to him? Was his power truly that magnificent? Calling to his servants, King Canute ordered his throne to be carried down to the seashore. With much pomp and majesty the King, followed by his entire court, made his way down the beach. His throne had been placed at the water’s edge, and there he took his seat.

The tide was coming in; so the King, in a tone of profound dignity and majesty, commanded the sea to proceed no further.

“Draw back, ye waves” he ordered, “Lest ye wet your lord and master.”

An awkward silence followed the command, as all present watched the water continue to advance rapidly. Before long, the waves were soon flowing over the king’s ankles. Impudent sea! Had it not heard the command of its lord?

As the royal court stood around the regal throne, a tense quiet hung over them. The king, rising to his feet, turned to his confused nobles. His royal flatterers, so generous with their praises but a short time before, now stood before him speechless. Canute smiled to himself. He was not in the least bit disappointed by the sea’s failure to respond to his command. From the start, he had desired to teach his foolish flatterers this lesson.

“My friends,” he said to them “Confess now that the power of an earthly king, compared with our Divine King, is nothing! Vain and empty are the commands of every temporal sovereign, for He alone can say to the waves ‘Thus far shall ye go, and no farther’, and they obey.”

Then, removing the crown from his head, he proceeded to the Cathedral of Winchester, England. Going inside, he solemnly placed the diadem upon the brow of the large crucifix there. After this profound act of humility, King Canute returned to his castle, leaving behind him this wonderful testimony of his homage to Jesus Christ, King of all Creation.

For the rest of his rule, until the day he died, the King Canute was never again seen wearing his crown. In his great humility, it remained upon the head of Christ on the Crucifix, as a reminder to all of the true Lord of the Earth.