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Harold Godwinson (c. 1022 – 14 October 1066), also called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon English king. Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066. It was the decisive battle of the Norman Conquest. Harold's death marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule over England.
- 6 January 1066
- Godwin, Earl of Wessex
- 5 January – 14 October 1066
- Gytha Thorkelsdóttir
- 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.
Jan 23, 2024 · Learn about Harold Godwinson, the nobleman who became King Harold II of England in 1066 after Edward the Confessor's death. Discover his family background, his military and political achievements, and his fate at the battle of Hastings.
Mar 11, 2024 · Harold Godwineson or Harold Godwinson. Born: c. 1020. Died: October 14, 1066, near Hastings, Sussex, England. Title / Office: king (1066-1066), England. Notable Family Members: father Godwine. brother Tostig, Earl of Northumbria. Role In: Battle of Hastings. Norman Conquest.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 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.
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Feb 7, 2022 · Learn about the life and reign of Harold II, the last Saxon king of England, who was killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Discover his family background, his relationship with Edward the Confessor, and his role in the Norman Conquest.
Sep 21, 2023 · King Harold II (Godwinson) 1066: possibly the most famous date in British history. The Bayeux tapestry documents the heroic battle and death of King Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England…
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