Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was King Harold II of England (c. 1022 – 14 October 1066). He ruled England after king Edward the Confessor died. He ruled from 5 January 1066 until he was killed at the Battle of Hastings. His death marked the Norman conquest of England and the end of Anglo-Saxon England.unsourced
Harold Godwinson | |||||
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King of England (more...) | |||||
Reign | 5 January — 14 October 1066 | ||||
Coronation | 6 January 1066 | ||||
Predecessor | Edward the Confessor | ||||
Successor | Edgar the Ætheling or William the Conqueror | ||||
Born | Circa 1022 Wessex, England | ||||
Died | Battle of Hastings, Sussex | 14 October 1066 (aged about 44)||||
Burial | Waltham Abbey, Essex, or Bosham (disputed) | ||||
Spouse | Edith Swanneck Edith of Mercia | ||||
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House | House of Godwin | ||||
Father | Godwin, Earl of Wessex | ||||
Mother | Gytha Thorkelsdóttir |
Career
Harold was the son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, and Gytha, a Danish noblewoman.[1] His sister, Edith, was married to the king he succeeded, Edward the Confessor.[2] About that same time Harold became Earl of East Anglia.[3] When his father died in 1053, Harold inherited his earldom of Wessex.[3]
Elfgar, son of Leofric of Mercia was appointed to replace Harold in East Anglia. Berkshire and Somerset were joined to Wessex again.[3] Wessex itself was, in those days, an enormous amount of land that covered about a third of England. Harold ruled over a large portion of England, making him the most powerful man in the whole kingdom, after the King.
Harold Godwinson had three brothers: Tostig,[4] Swegen[5] and Gryth.[6] He claimed to have been made King by Edward the Confessor. Before Harold Godwinson became king, he swore to help William, Duke of Normandy to become king.[7]
In September 1066 Harold Godwinson defeated an invasion from the north by Harald Hardrada.[6] He returned south to fight Duke William's invasion.[7] He was killed, it is generally assumed, by an arrow shot by one of William's archers, but some reports say he was cut down by many soldiers.[8]