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Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, who ruled from 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings. He was a powerful earl and a member of a prominent family with ties to Cnut the Great and King Edward the Confessor.
- Mark Cartwright
- Earl of Wessex. Harold was born around 1023 CE into the powerful Godwinson family, with his father, Godwin, being the Earl of Wessex and one of the richest men in England.
- Harold in Normandy. Harold Godwinson's star rose even higher when he was crowned king on 6 January 1066 CE following the death the day before of his brother-in-law King Edward the Confessor, who died childless.
- Battle of Stamford Bridge. The most immediate threat to Harold's kingdom was not from William, though, but from the north and another rival claimant to the throne, Harald Hardrada, king of Norway (aka Harold III, r. 1046-1066 CE).
- Battle of Hastings. Throughout the summer of 1066 CE William had been busy amassing a fleet on the northern coast of France near Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme.
- Adam Dalrymple
- Harold was the son of a great Anglo-Saxon lord. Harold’s father Godwin had risen from obscurity to become the Earl of Wessex in the reign of Cnut the Great.
- He was one of 11 children. Harold had 6 brothers and 4 sisters. His sister Edith married King Edward the Confessor. Four of his brothers went on the become earls, which meant that, by 1060, all the earldoms of England but Mercia were ruled by sons of Godwin.
- Harold became an earl himself. Harold became Earl of East Anglia in 1045, succeeded his father as Earl of Wessex in 1053, and then added Hereford to his territories in 1058.
- He defeated an expansionist King of Wales. He undertook a successful campaign against Gruffydd ap Llewelyn in 1063. Gruffydd was the only Welsh king ever to rule over the entire territory of Wales, and as such posed a threat to Harold’s lands in the west of England.
Aug 2, 2024 · Harold II, last Anglo-Saxon king of England. A strong ruler and skilled general, he held the crown for nine months in 1066 before he was killed at the Battle of Hastings by Norman invaders under William the Conqueror. Learn more about his life and reign in this article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jan 23, 2024 · Harold Godwinson was an important Anglo-Saxon nobleman in the 11th century. He is most famous for succeeding King Edward the Confessor in 1066 and briefly ruling England, as King Harold II, before his defeat and death at the battle of Hastings at the hands of Duke William of Normandy.
2 days ago · The story of Harold Godwinson's defeat in the Battle of Hastings was a long and bloody affair, which followed family betrayal and other nefarious deeds in scenes that could have inspired today's ...
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In this detailed biographical video, we consider the life and times of King Harold Godwinson, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England.Most famous for hi...
- 141 min
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- History Hub
