GODWINSON, Harold King of England II

Abt 1022 - 1066  (44 years)

• Name	GODWINSON, Harold
  Suffix	King of England II
  Birth	Abt 1022	Wessex, England
  Christening	Isle Of Thanet, Kent, England
  Gender	Male
  _COLOR	3
  Death	14 Oct 1066	Senlac, Sussex, England
  Burial	Essex, England
  Person ID	I25233	Puffers
  Last Modified	10 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	Godwine Earl of Wessex,   b. Abt 992, Wessex, England d. 15 Apr 1053, Winchester, Hampshire, England (Age 61 years)
  Mother	THORGILSSON, Gytha,   b. Abt 997, Halland, Sweden d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	1019	Halland, Sweden
  Family ID	F7391	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	SWANNESHA, Edith,   b. Abt 1025, Wessex, England d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	Abt 1045	Wessex, England
  Children	1. HAROLDSSON, Godwine Prince of England,   b. Abt 1047, Wessex, England d. Yes, date unknown   2. HARALDSSON, Edmund Prince of England,   b. Abt 1049, Wessex, England d. Yes, date unknown   3. HARALDSSON, Magnus Prince of England,   b. Abt 1051, Wessex, England d. Yes, date unknown   4. HARALDSDATTER, Gyda Princess of England,   b. Abt 1053, London, London, England d. Yes, date unknown   5. HARALDSDATTER, Gunhild Princess of England,   b. Abt 1055, London, London, England d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F7390	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	21 Apr 2024

  
  

• Notes

  He succeeded his father to the throne. Harold was a very successful Anglo-Saxon, Wessex warlord and the 2nd most powerful man in England after King Edward (the Confessor). When King Edward died suddenly and childless (1066), Harold crowned himself king shortly after Edward's death. He faced invasions by his brother Tostig, Harald Hardrada (Danish King) and William, Duke of Normandy. Tostig and Hardrada were killed at the battle of Stamford bridge which left William (the Conqueror) as the only serious opponent. At the battle of Hastings (East Sussex) Harald was killed, supposedly, when an arrow pierced his eye. However, the earliest accounts of the battle say nothing about an arrow in the eye, but say he was hacked to pieces by 4 knights. This started the Norman dynasty which ruled England for over 500 years.