Individual Details
Harold II Godwinson
(Bet 1020 and 1022 - 14 Oct 1066)
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Harold II Godwinson, King of England1
M, #102180, b. between 1020 and 1022, d. 14 October 1066
Last Edited=21 Jan 2011
Harold II Godwinson, King of England was born between 1020 and 1022.2 He was the son of Godwine, Earl of Wessex and Gytha (?).3 He and Adeliza de Normandie were engaged circa 1063.4 He married Ealdgyth (?), daughter of Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia and Elfleda (?), circa 1064 at York, Yorkshire, England.2 He died on 14 October 1066 at Hastings, Sussex, England, a blow from a sword wielded by a mounted Norman knight.5 He was buried at Waltham Abbey, Essex, England.5
He and Eadgyth Swanneshals (?) were associated.3 He gained the title of Earl of East Anglia circa 1045.2 He succeeded to the title of Earl of Wessex on 15 April 1053.2 He gained the title of Earl of Hereford in 1058.2 He succeeded to the title of King Harold II of England on 6 January 1066.2 He fought in the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.2
Harold was the son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, and the brother-in-law of Edward the Confessor. Before coming to the throne Harold had been captured in France and, under duress, is alleged to have sworn that he would not accept the English crown but would support William of Normandy's claim. When Edward the Confessor died the Wittan (Council) elected Harold to succeed him and he was crowned at Westminster Abbey. In Sept 1066 King Harold Hardrada of Norway and Tostig, Harold of England's half brother, sailed up the Humber and landed at Ricall near York. King Harold marched his army from the South up Ermine Street and decisively defeated the invaders at Stamford Bridge on 25th Sept. Meanwhile, William of Normandy was assembling his forces at the mouth of the Somme and as soon as the wind was favourable he crossed the Channel and landed at Pevensey on the 28th September. Harold force marched south and reached Battle near Hastings on the 13th Oct. The following day, Saturday 14th October 1066, is probably the most memorable in English History. Each army consisted of about 7,000 men but the Normans had the advantage of bow-men and cavalry while the English relied on axe and spear-men. The battle raged fiercely all day and in the evening, William ordered his archers to shoot high so that the arrows would drop vertically. Harold was struck in the right eye and mortally wounded.
Child of Harold II Godwinson, King of England and Ealdgyth (?)
Harold (?)2 b. Dec 1066, d. a 1098
Children of Harold II Godwinson, King of England and Eadgyth Swanneshals (?)
Gytha (?)+ d. 1107
Godwine (?)5
Edmund (?)5
Magnus (?)5
Gunhild (?)5
Ulf (?)2 b. Dec 1066, d. a 1087
Citations
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 34. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Families.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 36.
[S58] E. B. Fryde, D. E. Greenway, S. Porter and I. Roy, editors, Handbook of British Chronology, 3rd edition (London, U.K.: Royal Historical Society, 1986), page 29. Hereinafter cited as Handbook of British Chronology.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 44.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 37.
Harold II Godwinson, King of England1
M, #102180, b. between 1020 and 1022, d. 14 October 1066
Last Edited=21 Jan 2011
Harold II Godwinson, King of England was born between 1020 and 1022.2 He was the son of Godwine, Earl of Wessex and Gytha (?).3 He and Adeliza de Normandie were engaged circa 1063.4 He married Ealdgyth (?), daughter of Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia and Elfleda (?), circa 1064 at York, Yorkshire, England.2 He died on 14 October 1066 at Hastings, Sussex, England, a blow from a sword wielded by a mounted Norman knight.5 He was buried at Waltham Abbey, Essex, England.5
He and Eadgyth Swanneshals (?) were associated.3 He gained the title of Earl of East Anglia circa 1045.2 He succeeded to the title of Earl of Wessex on 15 April 1053.2 He gained the title of Earl of Hereford in 1058.2 He succeeded to the title of King Harold II of England on 6 January 1066.2 He fought in the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.2
Harold was the son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, and the brother-in-law of Edward the Confessor. Before coming to the throne Harold had been captured in France and, under duress, is alleged to have sworn that he would not accept the English crown but would support William of Normandy's claim. When Edward the Confessor died the Wittan (Council) elected Harold to succeed him and he was crowned at Westminster Abbey. In Sept 1066 King Harold Hardrada of Norway and Tostig, Harold of England's half brother, sailed up the Humber and landed at Ricall near York. King Harold marched his army from the South up Ermine Street and decisively defeated the invaders at Stamford Bridge on 25th Sept. Meanwhile, William of Normandy was assembling his forces at the mouth of the Somme and as soon as the wind was favourable he crossed the Channel and landed at Pevensey on the 28th September. Harold force marched south and reached Battle near Hastings on the 13th Oct. The following day, Saturday 14th October 1066, is probably the most memorable in English History. Each army consisted of about 7,000 men but the Normans had the advantage of bow-men and cavalry while the English relied on axe and spear-men. The battle raged fiercely all day and in the evening, William ordered his archers to shoot high so that the arrows would drop vertically. Harold was struck in the right eye and mortally wounded.
Child of Harold II Godwinson, King of England and Ealdgyth (?)
Harold (?)2 b. Dec 1066, d. a 1098
Children of Harold II Godwinson, King of England and Eadgyth Swanneshals (?)
Gytha (?)+ d. 1107
Godwine (?)5
Edmund (?)5
Magnus (?)5
Gunhild (?)5
Ulf (?)2 b. Dec 1066, d. a 1087
Citations
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 34. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Families.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 36.
[S58] E. B. Fryde, D. E. Greenway, S. Porter and I. Roy, editors, Handbook of British Chronology, 3rd edition (London, U.K.: Royal Historical Society, 1986), page 29. Hereinafter cited as Handbook of British Chronology.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 44.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 37.
Events
| Birth | Bet 1020 and 1022 | ||||
| Title (Nobility) | 15 Apr 1053 | Earl of Wessex | |||
| Title (Nobility) | 1058 | Earl of Hereford | |||
| Marriage | Ca 1064 | Ealdgyth (?) | |||
| Title (Nobility) | 6 Jan 1066 | King of England | |||
| Death | 14 Oct 1066 | At Battle of Hastings from a blow from a sword wielded by a mounted Norman knight | |||
| Military | 14 Oct 1066 | Battle of Hastings |
Families
| Spouse | Ealdgyth (?) ( - 1070) |
| Spouse | Eadgyth Swanneshals (?) "Edith 'Swan Neck'" ( - ) |
| Child | Gytha (?) ( - 1107) |
| Father | Godwine, Earl of Wessex (987 - 1053) |
| Mother | Gytha (?) ( - 1069) |
| Sibling | Eadgyth of Wessex (1020 - 1075) |