Harold II (1022?-1066) was the last Saxon king of England. His defeat at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 resulted in the conquest of England by the Normans, a French-speaking people from what is now the Normandy region of France.
Harold succeeded his father, Godwine, as Earl of Wessex in 1053. This title made Harold the most powerful noble in England. He resisted Norman influence, which had become strong in England since 1042, when Edward the Confessor became England’s king. In 1064, Harold was shipwrecked and fell into the hands of the Norman Duke William (later known as William the Conqueror). At this time, William may have forced Harold to swear to support his claim to the English throne.
In 1066, King Edward died. English nobles chose Harold as king, but William claimed the throne for himself. While Harold fought invading Norwegians in northern England, William invaded England in the south. After driving back the Norwegians, Harold marched his army south and was defeated and killed on Oct. 14, 1066, by William’s forces at the Battle of Hastings.
See also Bayeux Tapestry; Hastings, Battle of; Norman Conquest.
