Harold II Biography

Birth of Harold II, son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex

Created Earl of East Anglia

Harold accompanies hist father, Godwin, into exile

Harold returns from exile & helps restore his father, Godwin

Appointed Chief Minister

Appointed Chief Minister. Appointed Adviser to brother-in-law Edward the Confessor after the death of Godwin

Death of Godwin, Harolds father, succeeds as Earl of Wessex

Created Earl of Wessex, 2nd most powerful person after the King

Succeeds his father Earl Godwin as Earl of Wessex. Claims Edward renounced his succession to William in favor of him on his deathbed

Death of Godwin, Harold Godwineson succeeds to the Earldom of Wessex

Created Earl of Hereford

The Witan elects Harold & William prepares to invade. Succeeds as King of England

Handed over by Guy de Ponthieu to William I the Conqueror at the latters order

Held for ransom by the Count of Ponthieu after being found shipwrecked off France

Harold II marries Aldith, daughter of the Earl of Mercia & former wife of Gruffydd

Harold allegedly swears an oath to William supporting his claim to the English throne. Harold allegedly swears an oath supporting William Is claim to the English throne. Crosses the Channel & is captured, rescued by William & supports his succession

Held for ransom by the Count of Ponthieu after being found shipwrecked off France

Held for ransom by the Count of Ponthieu after being found shipwrecked off France

Harold II is shipwrecked off Normandy at Ponthieu

Harold marries Ealdgyth, sister of Edwin and Morcar, strengthening his political links with the Mercian family.

Around this period Harold marries Ealdgyth, sister of Edwin and Morcar, strengthening ties with the Mercian family.

Harold's marriage to Ealdgyth creates a dynastic link with the powerful house of Mercia.

Harold carries Edward's proposals to the Northumbrian rebels and negotiates rather than attempting to restore Tostig by force.

Harold takes a message from King Edward for Northumbrian rebels to make peace

Harold loses workmen when Caradoc's force attacks the royal construction site at Portskewet.

Caradoc ap Gruffydd attacks the works at Portskewet while Harold's royal building project is underway.

Harold supervises construction of a royal hunting residence at Portskewet for Edward the Confessor.

Raiders carry off goods and supplies gathered for Harold's royal building project at Portskewet.

Harold meets the rebel leaders at Northampton and attempts to negotiate a peaceful settlement.

Harold secures an agreement that prevents immediate fighting between the royal government and the northern coalition.

Harold learns that the Northumbrians have rejected his brother Tostig and chosen Morcar.

Harold receives demands for Tostig's outlawry and Morcar's recognition from the northern coalition.

Harold accepts Morcar's recognition as Earl of Northumbria as part of the peace settlement.

Harold accepts the settlement that sends his brother Tostig into exile.

Harold supports compromise rather than a royal military campaign that could trigger civil war.

Harold continues negotiations at Oxford after failing to reconcile Tostig with the Northumbrians.

Harold presents the rebels' demands to the royal government during the Oxford settlement.

Agrees to marry Ealdgyth, sister of Edwin & Morcar to gain support for his accession

Harold's negotiated settlement ends the immediate Northumbrian crisis without restoring Tostig.

Harold accepts that Tostig cannot be restored without civil war and supports a negotiated settlement.

Sent to mediate with the rebels by Edward but Tostig is exiled

Edward tells Harold "I commend Edith & all the Kingdom to your protection"

Believes William I buries Harold II on the sea-shore

Ealdgyth buries her former husband at Waltham Abbey

Hadrada is rumoured to be in in Isle of Wight preparing for an invasion

Halleys comet is seen over England, a portent of great things to happen

Tostig is forced to seek proptection in Scotland. Tostig invades the coast with a fleet of 60 ships but is defeated by Edwin

Assembles forces "larger than any king had assembled before in this country". Lands on the Isle of Wight to confront William the Conqueror but he does not arrive. Hadrada is rumoured to be in in Isle of Wight preparing for an invasion

Harold mobilizes to confront Tostig at the Isle of Wight but Tostig lands in the north

Harald III Hardrada arrives with an invasion fleet of 300 ships

The Bayeux Tapestry depicts Harold moving south to confront William's invading army.

The embroidery shows Harold receiving reports about the comet and a fleet of ships.

After Edward's death William asks Harold to honour his oath to him, Harold refuses

Death of Edward, he nominates Harold his successor on his deathbed

Ignores the oath made to William Duke of Normandy in 1064. Crowned King of England, on the same day Halleys comet is seen, an ominous portent

Harold ignores the oath made to William Duke of Normandy in 1064

The embroidery depicts Harold receiving the English crown after Edward's death.

Ignores the oath made to William Duke of Normandy in 1064. Crowned King of England, on the same day Halleys comet is seen, an ominous portent

Harold ignores the oath made to William Duke of Normandy in 1064

Succeeds as King of England. Harold Godwinson is chosen by the Witan to succeed Edward the Confessor

The Bayeux Tapestry shows a comet interpreted by onlookers as a threatening omen for Harold's reign.

Assembles forces "larger than any king had assembled before in this country"

Forced to disband his army & order his fleet back to London

Hadraada & Tostig defeat Edwin & Morcar then capture York

Defeats Hardrada & his brother Tostig, near York, Hardrada & Tostig are killed

Hears news of the Norman landing while at a banquet in York

Marches south as soon as he hears of Williams landing

Arrives in London from York in an attempt to head off the Norman invasion

Marches from London with about 5,000 men in an effort to surprise the Norman invaders

Gathers his forces & leaves for the Sussex Downs to cut William off from his ships

Harold & his armies assemble near Battle after Harold has marched 58 miles from London. Arrives in battle after 58 mile march from London which had taken its toll in infantry

Arrives in battle after marching 58 miles from London

Victory goes to the Normans whose cavalry overcomes the Anglo Saxon foot soldiers. The Battle takes place just 3 days after the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Harold is killed in batlle

Hears of Williams advance & forms a defensive position on Senlac ridge

Harold loses his element of surprise & the Normans attack

The final battle scenes portray Harold's death and the collapse of English resistance.

Death of Harold II, killed at the Battle of Hastings