Harald II GODWINSON

1022 - 1066  (44 years)

• Name	Harald II GODWINSON
  Birth	1022	Essex
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	Konge
  Residence	England
  Death	1066	Hastings, England
  Notes	Han ble konge i England etter Edward the Confessor, svogeren sin, i 1066. Han ble kronet i St. Paul i London, den åttende dagen i jula. Han sloss mot kong Harald Sigurdson Harråde i slaget ved Standford Bridge, hans bror Tostig Godwinson sloss på den norske konges side og falt. Bare få dager etter, i slaget ved Hastings, falt også Harald Godwinson mot Vilhelm av Normandi (Erobrer en). Harold II (c. 1020-1066), King of England (January 6, 1066-October 14, 1066), last of the Saxon rulers, and a capable military leader. The second son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, Harold was made Earl of East Anglia in 1045. In 1051 Godwin fell from favour with King Edward the Confessor and was exiled with his sons, but the following year the lands and titles of the family were rest ored in order to strengthen the security of the country. In 1053 Harold succeeded his father as Earl of Wessex, becoming chief minister to Edward and the most powerful man in the realm. Through his efforts, the warlike Welsh were subdued in 1063 . After a revolt against Harold's brother Tostig, Earl of Northumbria, Harold was forced to banish Tostig, an action that managed to restore peace but created a bitter enmity between the two brothers. Probably in 1064, Harold was shipwrecked off the coast of Normandy and captured by William, Duke of Normandy. In order to secure his release, Harold was forced to swear that he would support William's claim to the crown of England. King Edward ha d generally favoured the Normans during his lifetime, but when he was dying, he recommended that the throne be awarded to Harold, whom the witenagemot (royal council) elected and crowned. William immediately asserted his claim, which was supporte d by the dispossessed Tostig and Harold III (Hard Ruler) of Norway. Tostig and his Norwegian ally invaded Yorkshire and, after several military successes, were routed by the English forces at Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066; both were killed . Three days later, William landed in Sussex with his army, forcing Harold to hurry south to meet him. The armies engaged at Senlac Hill on October 14, 1066, in the Battle of Hastings; the defeat and death of Harold made William, thereafter calle d The Conqueror, ruler of England as King William I.1 1"Harold II," Microsoft(r) Encarta(r) 99 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
  Person ID	I3999	Valdres Slekt
  Last Modified	20 Nov 2007

  
  

  Father	Godwin WULFNTHSON,   b. Abt 990, Essex d. 1053 (Age ~ 63 years)
  Mother	Gyda TORGILSDTR,   b. Abt 995   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F2121	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S229] Morkinskinna, 186 (Reliability: 3).