Harold II King England

Other Events:

• AFN: B19S-5H

Notes:

Harold II, King Of England succeeded Edward the Confessor and was the last
Anglo-Saxon king of England. In 1053, Harold succeeded his father, Godwin, as
the Earl of Wessex. This made him the most powerful man in England. He
continued his father's resistance to Norman influence, which had become strong
in England under King Edward's patronage.

When Harold was shipwrecked in 1064, he fell into the hands of Duke William of
Normandy, later known as William the Conqueror. William forced Harold to swear
that he would support William's claim to the English throne. But when Edward
the Confessor died, the English nobles chose Harold king. When Harold accepted,
William invaded England to fight for the throne. Harold was defeated and
killed at the Battle of Hastings, in September, 1066. England then came under
Norman rule.
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Reference:
"The World Book Encyclopedia", 1968, p H67.

Harold married Ealdgyth Of Mercia Abt 1063, Of Wessex, England, England. Ealdgyth (daughter of Alfgar III, Earl Mercia and Elfgifu Princess Of England) was born Abt 1033, Of, Mercia, Mercia, England; died Aft 1085. [Group Sheet]