hen Harold I died, Harthacanute ( or Hardicanute ) returned to England as king. He brought Emma with him and had Godwin arrested, and exhumed the body of his half brother and then decapitated it followed by throwing it into the River Thames. Godwin bought himself freedom, as you could do in those days. His reign was inglorious. He spent most of his time persecuting and murdering the supporters of Harold I. He survived for only another two years. He apparently died of a stroke at a wedding reception in London. This ended 28 years of Danish rule in England.