Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

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Gytha

Gytha was the great grand-daughter of Harald Bluetooth, king of Denmark whose son, Sweyn Forkbeard was the father of Cnut or Canute, king of England 1016-35. There appears to have been some determination to forge an family link between these Danes and the Anglo-Saxon family of the earls of Wessex, for Godwin, who was brought up with Gytha. She bore him nine children of whom King Harold II was the third.

See also: Anglo-Saxon; Cnut; Dane; Godwin; Harold Godwinsson