Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

Harold Godwinsson

In 1066 the Anglo-Saxon Earl of Wessex, Harold II of England, was elected to a throne to which two powerful rivals, Harald Hardrada of Norway and William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, laid claim. Harold's father, Godwin of Wessex , had wielded influence in England ever since the death of King Canute or Cnut at Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1035. Under Edward the Confessor the conflict between the Anglo-Saxon tradition and the Norman influence came to a head and in 1051 Godwin and his sons were banished from the kingdom. They returned the next year and Edward was obliged to pardon them. Indeed, Harold assumed the major responsibility for the governance of the land and Edward concerned himself with religious affairs and the building of Westminster Abbey. Harold led the English against the Welsh and in 1055 overcame Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, a task he had to perform a second time in 1063 when the Welshman's followers turned against him and delivered up his head to the Englishman. In an attempt to unite the houses of Wessex and Mercia, he married Gruffydd's widow, Edith, daughter of Alfgar of Mercia although he was already married "in the Danish fashion" to Edith Swan-neck who bore him six children. His new wife bore him a son.

In 1064 Harold left Bosham in Sussex for Normandy on a journey the purpose of which is disputed. It may be that he was to confirm to William, on Edward's behalf, that the Norman was to succeed to the crown. In any case, his ship went astray and he fell into the hands of Guy of Ponthieu from whom William rescued him. Harold is then said to have sworn an oath of fealty to William, possibly at Bonneville-sur-Touques or maybe at Rouen. Harold went on to fight alongside William in the campaign against Conan II at Dinan. From the Norman point of view, Harold had committed himself to William's succession. In 1065 Harold's brother Tostig was ousted from his earldom of Northumbria on the grounds of abuse of his powers. Edward died in January 1066 and Harold was proclaimed king, to the disgust of the Normans who considered him forsworn. In May Tostig raided southern England but was repulsed and sought an ally in Harald Hardrada. Meanwhile William was gathering his forces to invade England and the summer passed in fearful expectation of war. In September Hardrada struck at York but was caught by Harold after an epic forced march and killed, as was Tostig, at Stamford Bridge. William grasped the opportunity and landed at Pevensey forcing Harold to hurry south. On 14 October the rivals' armies met north of Hastings at Senlac Hill where, after a long, close fight, Harold was killed. His corpse was identified by Edith Swan-neck and buried, tradition has it, at Waltham Abbey.

Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

Harold Godwinsson

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