by Pierre Du Plessis

Created on: October 11, 2008   Last Updated: November 11, 2011

In the year 1064, Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex, was shipwrecked on the coast of Normandy. At least, that is what we believe. He was sent by the king, Edward, on a mission somewhere on the French or Belgian coast. It is possible that Edward was sending him to William, the Duke of Normandy, who was another contender for the throne, on purpose. The reason I say that is because Edward was dying, but he had no children, and he didn't like Harold, who was the most likely candidate to the throne. Harold's father actually rebelled against Edward at one point. Also, during the Danish occupation of England that lasted until 1042, Edward was exiled to Normandy and came to know William quite well. It is then that William claims that Edward declared William as his heir.

Anyway, regardless of what Harold was doing, no one can really be sure, he was taken prisoner by a local count called Guy of Ponthieu. When he told them who he was, no one believed him, until he was brought before William, who of course recognised him immediately. Harold wanted to return home immediately, and William promised to lend him a boat. However, the weeks went by, and still Harold remained in Normandy. Each time he asked whether he was going to go back soon, William told him there were no boats available. Maybe there weren't, but we can be sure that William was actually holding him in Normandy against his will. William also asked Harold about the English succession, but Harold wisely remained silent.

Now, the Dukedoms of Normandy and Brittany were never best of friends, and they were fighting a war at this point in time. William brought Harold along to witness the defeat of the Bretons. The Breton army, under Conan II, was surrounded and defeated in a bloody slaughter, though Conan survived and was murdered at a later date having donned poisoned riding gloves. Harold took part in the battle; indeed, William knighted Harold after the battle.

Back in Normandy, Harold was finally allowed to go home. As expected, there was one final condition to be met: Harold had to swear fealty to William and to relinquish all claim to the English crown. Harold obviously wasn't going to keep it, so William came up with a cunning plan. He made Harold swear allegiance to him in front of a large crowd, and, strangely, Harold had to lay his hands on a covered table.

Having sworn the oath, the table was uncovered, revealing the bones of a holy saint. Harold was shocked and outraged at this, but there was nothing he could do. He was now allowed to return to England. Not long after that, Edward died, naming Harold his heir, though William claimed he had done the same for him several years back. William was far from happy when he heard Harold was king, but he was probably expecting it. He obtained the pope's support for his invasion of England, probably to keep morale up, reduce the risk of desertion, motivate foreigners to join him and stop his enemies from invading Normandy whilst he was away on campaign.

In the year 1066, William was finally ready for the invasion, but bad winds delayed him, which proved lucky in the end, for in the meantime, King Harald Hardrada of Norway had built up his own army and landed in Northumbria. Harold Godwinson was forced to march his army north to face the Norwegian threat and defeated them at Stamford Bridge (in York, not London). Harold had to march his army back south to London, because he knew William was coming.

The winds finally became favourable for William, so he sailed to England with an army of about 6,000-7,500 men and famously defeated the English at Hastings on October the 6th. William was crowned king of England on Christmas Day, 1066.

Learn more about this author, Pierre Du Plessis.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.