Her brothers were Edwin, Earl of Mercia, and Morcar, who replaced Harold’s brother Tostig as Earl of Northumberland in the last months of 1065. Even their names, Eadgifu and Eadgyth, are so similar that the difference could be merely a matter of spelling or mistranslation; indeed, the Abbey of St Benet of Hulme, Norfolk, remembers an Eadgifu Swanneshals among its patrons. Young Harold is said to have grown up in exile on the Continent and died in 1098.
The Malmesbury Chronicle says that he went on a fishing trip and got blown off course due to bad weather whilst the Bayeux Tapestry depicts Harold arriving to retrieve various relations who had been held hostage for several years. After another year or so of leading resistance to Norman rule in the south-west, Harold’s mother, Gytha, eventually fled into exile on the Continent, taking Harold and Edith’s daughter, another Gytha, with her.
[30] Many believe this, as the name "Harold" is above the figure with an arrow in his eye. Gruffuddd had been murdered in 1063, following an English expedition into Wales. According to Orderic Vitails, he was once betrothed for to Adeliza, one of the daughters of William, Duke of Normandy. Borman, Tracy (2011) Matilda: Queen of the Conqueror. The History and Legend of Lady Godiva – History… the interesting bits!
Harold’s two sons by Edith, Harold and Ulf, were born after his death. Gytha’s nephew, Sweyn Estrithson, would eventually rule Denmark as king. Any children of such a union were considered legitimate. Although not apparent in the earlier depictions, the Tapestry today has stitch marks indicating the fallen figure once had an arrow in its eye. [f] Several ships sank in storms, which forced the fleet to take shelter at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and to wait for the wind to change. At the time of the Battle of Hastings, on 14 October 1066, Ealdgyth was in London, but her brothers took her north to Chester soon after. Telling the stories of some of the most incredible women from Medieval history, Heroines of the Medieval World, is now available in hardback in the UK from both Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK, in the US from Amazon US and worldwide from Book Depository. Frank Barlow points out that the author of the. Walker notes that one source suggests a plan to marry Harold’s sister to Duke William – which can’t have been the case as his wife Matilda might have objected. This also meant that they were often seen as a threat to the man wearing the crown – especially Edward the Confessor – and suffered exile as a result. Gruffudd’s own men are said to have betrayed their king, killed him and presented his head to Harold in submission. There is a tradition, from the monks of Waltham Abbey, of Edith bringing Harold’s body to them for burial, soon after the battle. Emma ultimately married Aethelred’s enemy Cnut having left the children of her first marriage in Normandy (Alfred and Edward – who became the Confessor and despite being Saxon was actually very Norman). The two armies clashed at the Battle of Hastings, at Senlac Hill (near the present town of Battle) close by Hastings on 14 October, where after nine hours of hard fighting, Harold was killed and his forces defeated. [11] Sweyn, Harold's elder brother, had been named an earl in 1043. Gyrth and Leofwine both fought – and died – alongside Harold at Hastings. The Bayeux Tapestry, and other Norman sources, then record that Harold swore an oath on sacred relics to William to support his claim to the English throne. His grave, found in my life time, was thrilling news but not enough coverage was made available other than his head was bashed in by a broad sword, as we suspected be the case.
Harold's army marched 241 miles (386 kilometres) to intercept William, who had landed perhaps 7,000 men in Sussex, southern England. Harold was a powerful earl and member of a prominent Anglo-Saxon family with ties to Cnut the Great.
[8] Harold Godwinson married Edith, sister of the Earl of Mercia. According to Snorri Sturluson, before the battle a single man rode up alone to Harald Hardrada and Tostig.