Harold I (1022 – 1066)

Harold was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, his short reign was brought to an end with his death at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 at the hands of William the Conqueror.

Harold was the son of a powerful earl of Wessex and the brother in law of King Edward the Confessor. Harold grew in prominence and gained prowess in his battles against the Welsh. During this time there was much debate as to who would succeed the childless King. Many saw Harold as the blood heir, but the Duke of Normandy, William considered himself the successor, as the King’s cousin and claimed that Edward himself had named him as such.

When Harold found himself shipwrecked off the coast of Normandy in 1056, William’s hand was further strengthened. William alleged that during this time he forced Harold to swear his support to William’s claim. But when Harold returned, he claimed that Edward had promised him the crown on his deathbed and took the throne in January 1066.

But his reign was to be short lived. William was a powerful and ambitious man, he wasn’t about to take Harold’s succession lying down, and set out to invade England and take the crown by force.

Just as Harold’s forces were preparing for invasion from the Normans in the south, a Viking force invaded the lands around Yorkshire in the north of England. Harold was forced to march his men north to repel the Vikings at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, then turn around and march 386km to meet William’s armies three days later in Hastings.

The Battle of Hastings lasted all day, William’s Norman army were stronger, more disciplined and better equipped than the Saxons, and proved no match for Harold’s tired troops. Harold himself was killed in battle with an arrow shot to the eye. Battle Abbey just outside Hastings reputedly stands on the very spot that Harold fell.

Along with Harold, Saxon rule in England died forever and the arrival of the Normans brought about the biggest social change in British history.