King Harold II

NAME Harold II Godwinson 

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Harold II was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, remembered chiefly for his brief but dramatic reign in 1066 and for his death at the Battle of Hastings, which marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule and the beginning of Norman England.

BIRTH Harold was born around 1022 AD in Wessex, England. Some sources suggest he may have been born as late as 1023 AD.​

FAMILY BACKGROUND Harold came from the most powerful noble family in England. His father was Godwin, Earl of Wessex, who had risen from comparative obscurity to become one of the richest and most influential men in the kingdom under King Cnut the Great. His mother was Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, a Danish noblewoman whose brother Ulf the Earl was married to King Cnut's sister Estrid Svendsdatter. This gave Harold royal Danish connections through his maternal line, as his great-uncle was King Sweyn Forkbeard and his great-nephew would become King Sweyn II of Denmark.​

Harold was one of eleven children in the Godwin household, with six brothers and four sisters. His sister Edith married King Edward the Confessor in 1045, further cementing the family's political power. Four of his brothers also became earls, meaning that by 1060, all the earldoms of England except Mercia were controlled by sons of Godwin.​

CHILDHOOD Harold grew up in what must have been a boisterous household with so many siblings. His father Godwin would have needed to be a strong disciplinarian to maintain order, while their mother Gytha managed the family and household affairs during Godwin's frequent absences due to his duties as Earl of Wessex. 

EDUCATION The family employed strict tutors, and Harold received a thorough education alongside his brothers, particularly Tostig, with both being referred to as 'intelligent' in contemporary sources.​

Harold was k a keen reader and was well-educated by the standards of his time. He and his brother Tostig were noted for their intelligence in the Vita Edwardi. Harold's included literacy in both Old English and Latin, law and military strategy, essential for his later political and administrative roles.​

CAREER RECORD 1045: Appointed Earl of East Anglia.

1051: Briefly exiled with his father and family after a political crisis, returning triumphantly in 1052.

1053: Succeeded his father as Earl of Wessex and became the most powerful nobleman in England, second only to the King.

1053-1066: Acted as the effective regent and military commander of England under the pious and often frail King Edward the Confessor.

c.1064: Travelled to Normandy where, according to Norman accounts, he swore an oath of fealty to William, Duke of Normandy (a claim Harold later denied).

January 6,1066: Elected and crowned King of England immediately following the death of Edward the Confessor.

​APPEARANCE Harold is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry and described by later chroniclers as tall, fair-haired, and broad-shouldered—the very image of an Anglo-Saxon warrior-king. 

The contemporary historian Orderic Vitalis called him “very tall and handsome, remarkable for his physical strength, his courage, and his eloquence.” Oderic noted that he was “distinguished by his great size and strength of body” and possessed “polished manners.” With his blond hair, flowing mustache, and commanding physique, Harold embodied the archetypal “Viking type”—strong, athletic, and resolute. His formidable presence reflected the authority and ambition that defined his reign. (1)

Harold Godwinson, from the Bayeux Tapestry

FASHION As a high-ranking Anglo-Saxon noble, Harold wore the finest clothing available, consisting of tunics, long cloaks (often embroidered), and likely significant gold and silver jewelry (like brooches and rings) demonstrating his wealth and status.

He had the distinctive Anglo-Saxon long hair and facial hair that differentiated his people from the clean-shaven, short-haired Normans.​

CHARACTER Harold inherited many of his father Godwin's characteristics: he was determined, single-minded, ambitious, and politically astute, but also patient, compassionate, forgiving, loyal, and honorable. However, he could be ruthless when necessary, as demonstrated in his Welsh campaigns. Contemporary sources describe him as reasonable, congenial, and persuasive in counsel, though sometimes impatient in military situations.

SPEAKING VOICE Harold was trained to inspire troops and address assemblies. Orderic Vitalis noted his "command of words" and eloquence, suggesting he was an effective and articulate speaker.​ (1)

SENSE OF HUMOUR Orderic Vitalis mentioned Harold's "ready wit," indicating he possessed a good sense of humor and quick verbal skills.​ Later ballads and legends cast Harold as possessing a quick wit and a common touch that earned him affection among his men.

RELATIONSHIPS For over twenty years, from the early 1050s until his accession to the throne in 1066, Harold lived with Edith the Fair (also known as Edith Swansneck or Eadgyth Swanneshals) in what was called a more danico or Danish-style marriage. This union, while not recognized by the Church, was legally and socially accepted under Anglo-Saxon law. 

Harold’s devotion to Edith was deep—he had a tattoo over his heart reading “Edith and England.” (2)

They had at least five or six children together: sons Godwin, Edmund, Magnus, and Ulf, and daughters Gytha and Gunhild.​

In 1066, for political reasons, Harold entered into a Church-sanctioned marriage with Ealdgyth of Mercia, the sister of Edwin, Earl of Mercia, and Morcar, Earl of Northumbria. This strategic alliance was designed to secure the loyalty of these powerful earls during his kingship. Ealdgyth was also the widow of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, the Welsh king Harold had defeated in 1063.​

MONEY AND FAME As Earl of Wessex, Harold was one of the wealthiest men in England. His wealth came from his vast landed estates, his position as the king's chief administrator, and gifts from those seeking to curry favor with him. His political power and military successes had made him famous throughout England and beyond by the time he became king.​

Coin of King Harold Godwinson

FOOD AND DRINK As a nobleman, Harold would have eaten roasted meats, bread, cheese, and ale. Feasting was an important part of Anglo-Saxon life and politics.

MUSIC AND ARTS The Anglo-Saxon court enjoyed storytelling, song, and harp music. Harold would have heard epic poetry and Christian hymns, possibly favouring heroic sagas that celebrated loyalty and bravery.

Harold was a major patron of the Church. His most significant act of patronage was the foundation of Waltham Abbey (now Waltham Holy Cross) in Essex, which became a centre of Anglo-Saxon learning and artistic production.

LITERATURE Harold was noted as a keen reader, indicating his appreciation for literature and learning. This was relatively uncommon among nobles of the period and speaks to his intellectual interests.​

NATURE Harold was a keen hunter, like most nobles of his era, and spent much time in the forests and downs of Wessex.

PETS Hunting dogs and falcons were standard among Anglo-Saxon nobles.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Harold was an accomplished hunter, as evidenced by his bringing hunting dogs and hawks as diplomatic gifts during his visit to Normandy in 1064. Hunting was both a practical skill and a prestigious aristocratic pursuit in the medieval period.​

He was likely skilled in archery and swordsmanship.

Harold Godwinson hunting in the forests of Wessex with his hounds and hunting hawk

SCIENCE AND MATHS The administration of his vast estates would have required basic mathematics for accounting and land measurement.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY While Harold Godwinson was not renowned for exceptional personal piety like Edward the Confessor, he was certainly a Christian monarch by the standards of his era. His relationship with the Church was pragmatic, sometimes experiencing tension over authority but ultimately showing profound respect, as illustrated by his burial by monks at Waltham Abbey following the Battle of Hastings. This connection was not coincidental: Harold had a long-standing relationship with Waltham, having rebuilt the church in stone around 1060 and established a college of canons there, endowing it extensively. He reputedly funded this project out of gratitude for a miraculous healing of paralysis through prayer at Waltham.​

Harold supported religious institutions in line with most Anglo-Saxon nobles, providing land, resources, and infrastructure, thus ensuring both spiritual merit and political loyalty. 

REIGN Harold II’s reign  lasted a mere nine months—from January 6 to October 14, 1066—but in that time, England endured more upheaval, invasion, and general bloodletting than most countries see in a century. Harold was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, crowned almost before Edward the Confessor’s body had cooled, and instantly found himself besieged by people who thought they’d make a much better job of being king than he would.

To the south, there was William of Normandy, a man of sturdy ambition and an even sturdier chin. To the north, Harald Hardrada of Norway—a sort of walking thundercloud of a Viking—was egged on by Harold’s own brother, Tostig, who had the peculiar knack of making family gatherings seem like battle strategy sessions.

Harold’s ascension was perfectly proper, at least by English standards. The Witenagemot, a council of England’s top nobles, picked him as king, and he was crowned in Westminster Abbey with all due ceremony. Unfortunately, due ceremony counted for very little when you had two foreign rulers sharpening their swords over your crown. William and Hardrada both claimed Edward had promised the throne to them first—a classic case of too many promises and not enough kingdoms.

King Harold's coronation. Bayeux Tapestry

Harold’s year as king was a kind of frantic royal obstacle course. In September 1066, Hardrada and Tostig invaded from the north, obliging Harold to march his army hundreds of miles to meet them. He did so with astonishing speed—an 11th-century record for fast marching—and at Stamford Bridge delivered a thunderous victory. Hardrada and Tostig were both killed, and England, for a moment, seemed safe from the Vikings at last.

Then, in the most unfortunate piece of timing in English history, news arrived that William of Normandy had landed on the southern coast. Harold, no doubt sighing heavily, turned his weary troops around and marched them back the way they’d come, to face a fresh invasion.

On October 14, 1066, the two armies met at Hastings. It was, by all accounts, an exhausting and ferocious day—one of those battles where both sides probably wondered halfway through whether the crown was really worth all this trouble. The English shield wall held firm for hours, but the Normans eventually broke through with clever cavalry feints and relentless volleys of arrows.

As dusk fell, Harold was killed—how exactly remains a matter of debate. The Bayeux Tapestry shows him struck in the eye by an arrow, though some chroniclers suggest he was hacked to pieces by Norman knights. Either way, it was a decidedly bad day for Harold and an even worse one for Anglo-Saxon England, which would never be the same again.

POLITICS Harold was an extremely astute politician. For over a decade before becoming King, he expertly navigated the competing factions at the royal court, balancing the interests of the powerful Godwin family against the influence of the King and the Norman-leaning foreign nobles. His ability to govern the country while King Edward was alive made his claim to the throne a strong one.

SCANDAL The most significant scandal associated with Harold was his alleged oath to William of Normandy in 1064, which became central to William's justification for invading England. According to Norman sources, during Harold's visit to Normandy, he swore on sacred relics to support William's claim to the English throne. Harold later argued that any promises were made under duress, but William used this "oath-breaking" as propaganda to legitimize his invasion.​

Another source of controversy was Harold's treatment of his brother Tostig. In 1065, when the Northumbrians revolted against Tostig's harsh rule, Harold chose to negotiate with the rebels rather than defend his brother, ultimately agreeing to Tostig's exile. Tostig viewed this as a profound betrayal and subsequently allied with Harald Hardrada of Norway to invade England.​

Harold's de facto relationship with Edith Swan-neck was also contentious, particularly to the reforming Roman Church, though acceptable under local English custom.

MILITARY RECORD  Harold's military career was distinguished and successful until his final battle. His major campaigns included:

Welsh Campaigns (1062-1063): Harold led successful land and sea campaigns against King Gruffudd ap Llywelyn of Wales, ultimately resulting in Gruffudd's defeat and death. These campaigns demonstrated Harold's military competence and strategic thinking.​

Battle of Stamford Bridge (September 25, 1066): Harold achieved one of the most spectacular military victories in English history, completely defeating the invasion force led by Harald Hardrada of Norway and his own brother Tostig. Both enemy leaders were killed, and the Norwegian army was so decimated that only 24 ships were needed to carry the survivors home from the original fleet of 300.​

Battle of Stamford Bridge, 1870, by Peter Nicolai Arbo

Battle of Hastings (October 14, 1066): Harold's final battle on Caldbec Hill, where his forces were defeated by William the Conqueror's Norman army. Despite the defeat, Harold's defensive tactics using the shield wall formation initially proved effective, and the battle lasted nine hours from dawn to dusk.​ Hsrold was killed in battle—possibly by an arrow to the eye, though contemporary sources suggest he was slain and dismembered by Norman knights. Two of his brothers, Gyrth and Leofwine, also fell that day.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Harold’s numerous campaigns and long hours in the saddle attest to his strong constitution and warrior’s stamina. His ability to lead forced marches covering approximately 200 miles from London to Stamford Bridge in just four days, fight a major battle, and then march south again demonstrates exceptional physical fitness and endurance.​

Harold Godwinson reputedly funded the rebuilding and endowment of Waltham Abbey out of gratitude for a miraculous healing from paralysis, which he attributed to prayers before the Holy Cross at Waltham. Before becoming king, Harold prayed at the church and experienced a remarkable recovery, and in thanks, rebuilt the church on a grand scale around 1060, establishing a college of canons and lavishly supporting the institution.

HOMES Harold's primary residences included estates throughout his earldom of Wessex and East Anglia. Recent archaeological discoveries have confirmed the location of Harold's residence at Bosham in West Sussex, which is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry. Excavations have revealed medieval buildings including what appears to be an elite Anglo-Saxon residence with integrated toilets, confirming this as Harold's "private power centre". (3)​

Harold also maintained residences at Waltham in Essex, where he was later buried at Waltham Abbey.​

As King, he resided at the Royal Palace of Westminster and other royal manors across the country.

TRAVEL Harold's most significant recorded journey was his diplomatic mission to Normandy in 1064, though the exact purpose remains debated. During this visit, he was shipwrecked off the Norman coast, captured by Guy of Ponthieu, and subsequently "rescued" by William of Normandy. He participated in William's military campaign in Brittany before returning to England.​

Some sources suggest Harold may have made a pilgrimage to Rome around 1057, though this remains uncertain.​

DEATH Harold died on October 14, 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, aged approximately 44. The exact manner of his death remains debated. The famous account of him being killed by an arrow to the eye, depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, may have been Norman propaganda designed to suggest divine judgment. Alternative accounts describe him being hacked to death by a group of Norman knights, possibly including William himself. 

Harold's death depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry,

His body, mutilated and barely recognisable, was identified by Edith the Fair, who knew him by private markings on his chest. Because of her recognition, Harold was given a Christian burial by the monks at Waltham Abbey. (2)

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Harold's story has been immortalized primarily through the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts key moments of his life and death. 

Modern historical fiction has featured Harold as a protagonist, including Tony Bradman's Anglo-Saxon Boy, which tells the story from the perspective of Harold's son Magnus.​

Harold has been portrayed in various historical dramas and documentaries about the end of the Anglo-Saxon period such as the BBC’s King and Conqueror (2025), where his life and rivalry with William of Normandy were dramatized..

ACHIEVEMENTS Effective Statesman: Successfully governed England for over a decade as the most powerful man in the kingdom under Edward the Confessor.

Military Strategist: Achieved a definitive victory against the Welsh in 1063.

King of England: Successfully claimed and received the English crown in 1066 (albeit briefly).

Victor of Stamford Bridge: Crushed the largest Viking invasion in a generation, securing a massive, if temporary, victory for England.

Patron of the Church: Founded and endowed Waltham Abbey

Sources: (1) The Road to Hastings and Other Stories (2) Encyclopaedia of Trivia (3) BBC