Harold Godwinson

Also known as Harold II of England, Harold was born at Bosham, West Sussex ("In the Footsteps of King Harold": c. 1020), in about 1022, second child to Godwin [Godwine], the powerful Earl of Wessex, and his wife Gytha (Ancestral Roots 6). He had many siblings, as listed below. Note: Harold's birth seems to conflict with that of Sweyn [Swegen], the elder brother of Harold; Sweyn's birth has been moved back two years from what some publications show. Discerning these birth dates has always been problematic at best (The House of Godwine 35).

• Sweyn (c. 1021 – 1052): brother, Earl of Herefordshire
• Gunhilda [Gunnhilda] (c. 1024 – 24 Aug 1087): sister, nun
• Tostig (c. 1026 – 25 September 1066): brother, Earl of Northumbria
• Edith [Eadgyth] (c. 1030 – 19 December 1075): sister, Queen consort of Edward the Confessor
• Gyrth (c. 1030 – 14 October 1066): brother, Earl of East Anglia, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire
• Ælfgifu [Aelfgyva, Elgiva] (c. 1026 – c. 1066): sister
• Marigard (6 February 1033 – 6 August 1083): sister
• Leofwine (c. 1035 – 14 October 1066): brother, Earl of Kent
• Wulfnoth (c. 1040 – c. 1094): brother, in captivity most of life in Normandy; died still in captivity in Salisbury, England

Little is known of the childhood of Harold. Clearly he was trained in matters of leadership and government, although much of this was most likely innate. His father had climbed his way in power, from a low position in the Saxon aristocracy ("The battle of Hastings" 1) to being at least the second most powerful man in England (Anglo-Saxon England 561). His mother was a close kin to King Canute [Cnut or Knut], a Danish king who succeeded Edmund II Ironside as king of England in 1016 ("Harold II" 1).

Harold married Edith Swan-neck [Aldgyth or Ealdgyth Swanneshals] (also known as Edith the Fair), probably at least as early as 1045 (The Last Anglo-Saxon King 128). The marriage appears to have been one of love, done more Danico: in the traditional Danish fashion. This meant it would have been a civil marriage, specifically a "handfast" (common-law) marriage ("Handfasting" 172–173). It is likely that Harold followed this method of wedding because his own mother was Danish. In any case, it was generally considered valid and binding by the people (there is no evidence that their children were ever considered illegitimate by the laity), although the Church considered Edith to be Harold's mistress, rather than an actual wife (House 139).

In 1044, Harold was made Earl of East Anglia by Edward the Confessor (Harold II, Godwinson (1066): Last of the Saxon Kings 1). Shortly thereafter, Sweyn—considered the black sheep of the family—helped Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, the King of Gwynedd in northern Wales, with an invasion into Deheubarth, the most southwestern kingdom of Wales (Flame-bearers of Welsh History 22). Among other things, the invasion resulted in Sweyn's abduction of the Abbess of Leominster, whom he retained; some claims were made that such was the result of true love, but suspicions formed that it was, in fact, for his own concupiscence (Shropshire: Its Early History and Antiquities 97). The result of this behavior was a blow to the House of Godwin. Sweyn was exiled, where he remained in Bruges with his father's long-standing ally, Count Baldwin V of Flanders. Sweyn's lands were divided between Harold and Beorn [Bjorn], a cousin (House 54–55).

A return of Sweyn the following year would be short-lived. It appears King Edward was willing to forgive Sweyn for his indiscretions, and that he wanted to return Sweyn's original title and lands to him. Harold and Beorn, however, indicated that they "would surrender to [him] nothing [of his] that the king had imparted to them" (Anglo Saxon Chronicle C). The king accepted their decision, apparently inflaming the returned son.

At about this time, an invasion was attempted by Osgod Clapa, a Danish magnate who had been exiled in 1046 from England (Anglo-Saxon England 430). Earl Godwin was ordered to the English Channel, where Clapa's ships were spotted. He was accompanied by 42 ships, including two of the king's own ships, which came under command of his sons, Harold and Tostig. Beorn was left behind to command Harold's own ship. Sweyn convinced Beorn to help him work out his reinstatement with the king, at the time in Sandwich. They sailed to Bosham, probably for appearances, but once there Sweyn bound his cousin (who had brought only 3 men with him) and brought him onto his own ship. Then, for some unknown reason, the defenseless Beorn was murdered at Dartmouth (The Last Anglo-Saxon King 24).

Perhaps Sweyn intended to use Beorn as a hostage during his negotiations; maybe Beorn vehemently refused to help him after all, inciting his wrath. In either case, this act made Sweyn's exile permanent. King Edward declared him níðing (NIH-thing), meaning a coward, outlaw, or one who commits a vile action. Six of Sweyn's eight ships forsook him, and he was forced to return to Bruges.  ("In the Footsteps of King Harold": 1049).

The response of the king was absolute.  Not only was Sweyn exiled for life, but the rest of the House of Godwin was punished.  Godwin and his sons were also exiled from England, and Edward's own wife, Edith, was moved to a nunnery (The Norman Conquest and Beyond, 68).  It is noteworthy that a number of French nobles and religious figures remained in England after this exile ().  That King Edward favored those of French blood, often over Anglo-Saxon blood, seems apparent ().  It is plausible that the extremity of the punishment against the House of Godwin came from a desire to purge the land of a powerful rival influence, and the act of Sweyn gave the king an excuse to rid himself of the lot.

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