1022-1066

After a 24-year reign, Edward the Confessor dies on January 5 and Harold Godwinson becomes King Harold II. Harold II, or Harold Godwinson (and sometimes just as Harold), was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon King of England. Harold was born in 1022, son of Godwin (alt. Godwine), Earl of Wessex and Gytha Thorkelsdóttir. He had links to Cnut the Great (Canute) and Sweyn Forkbeard. In September 1066 Harold fights off an invasion by Harald Hardrada of Norway in the North while William the Conqueror builds his invasion force down the South. Harold marches South and on October 14 he is killed at the Battle of Hastings. Harold's death (which may not have been with an arrow through the eye as commonly told) heralded the start of the Norman era. Edgar AEtheling is proclaimed King of England (never crowned) but soon concedes and on Christmas Day King William I is the first of the Norman Kings.