Harold Godwinson

Updated: Wikipedia source

Harold Godwinson

Harold Godwinson (died 14 October 1066), also called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England. Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, the decisive battle of the Norman Conquest. He was succeeded by William the Conqueror, the victor at Hastings. Harold Godwinson was a member of one of the most powerful noble families in England, his father Godwin having been made earl of Wessex by King Cnut the Great. Harold, who served previously as earl of East Anglia, was appointed to his father's earldom on Godwin's death. After his brother-in-law, King Edward the Confessor, died childless on 5 January 1066, the Witenagemot convened and chose Harold to succeed him; he was probably the first English monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey. In late September, he defeated an invasion by rival claimant Harald Hardrada of Norway in the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York before marching his army back south to meet William at Hastings two weeks later, where he was killed in battle.

Infobox

Reign

5 January – 14 October 1066

Coronation

6 January 1066

Predecessor

Edward the Confessor

Successor

William I

Born

Wessex, England

Died

(1066-10-14)14 October 1066 near Senlac Hill, Sussex, England

Burial

Waltham Abbey, Essex, or Bosham, Sussex (disputed)

Spouses

Edith the Fair Ealdgyth of Mercia

Issue

Godwin Edmund Magnus Gunhild Gytha Harold Ulf

House

Godwin

Father

Godwin, Earl of Wessex

Mother

Gytha Thorkelsdóttir

Tables

· External links

Regnal titles

Regnal titles

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Regnal titles

Preceded byEdward the Confessor

Preceded byEdward the Confessor

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Preceded byEdward the Confessor

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

King of the English 1066

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Succeeded byWilliam I

Peerage of England

Peerage of England

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Peerage of England

Preceded byÆlfgār

Preceded byÆlfgār

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Preceded byÆlfgār

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Earl of East Anglia 1052–1053

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Succeeded byÆlfgār

Preceded byGodwin

Preceded byGodwin

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Preceded byGodwin

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Earl of Wessex 1st creation 1053–1066

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066

Merged in Crown

Harold Godwinson House of Godwin Died: 14 October 1066
Regnal titles
Preceded byEdward the Confessor	King of the English 1066	Succeeded byWilliam I
Peerage of England
Preceded byÆlfgār	Earl of East Anglia 1052–1053	Succeeded byÆlfgār
Preceded byGodwin	Earl of Wessex 1st creation 1053–1066	Merged in Crown

References

Eadsige was Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of Earl Godwine. Eadsige's relations with Christ Church, Canterbury may
A team of a archaeologists from Newcastle University, and the University of Exeter, claim to have uncovered evidence tha
Edward may not have been blameless in this situation, as at least one other man, Sweyn II of Denmark, also thought Edwar
Bayeux Tapestry, in which the place is called in Latin Belrem
Frank Barlow points out that the author of the Vita, who appears to have looked favourably on Harold, was writing after
This was in preference to Edward's great-nephew, Edgar the Ætheling, who had yet to reach maturity.
Who also claimed the English crown through a succession pact concluded between Harthacnut, king of England and Denmark,
also known as Edyth Swannesha (Edith Swanneck)
5 feet (1 m)
Harold was thought to have been in his 40s at his death
At midsummer in 1069, Brian of Brittany and Alan the Black led a force that defeated a raid by Godwine and Edmund, sons
The pagan English had been polygynous. When the English were evangelised, although by church law concubinage would not h
DeVries 1999, p. 230.
Walker 2000, p. 10.
Barlow 1988, p. 451.
Walker 2000, pp. 7–9.
Walker 2000, p. 12.
Walker 2000, pp. 13–15.
Walker 2000, p. 16.
Walker 2000, pp. 17–18.