He didn't rule the waves (6)

I believe the answer is:

canute

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'he didn't rule the waves' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

This is the entire clue.

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(Other definitions for canute that I've seen before include "Pre-Norman king of England & Denmark" , "King of England, Denmark and Norway" , "English king who ordered waves to retreat" , "Danish king of England who tried to stop the tide" , "Old king of England who tried to stop the tide" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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