Harold II summary

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Harold II, known as Harold Godwineson, (born c. 1020—died Oct. 14, 1066, near Hastings, Sussex, Eng.), King of England (1066). The son of the politically powerful Godwine, earl of Wessex, he inherited his father’s earldom and power in 1053. When Edward the Confessor died in January 1066, Harold’s supporters dominated the witan (king’s council) and chose him as king. He was opposed by King Harald III Sigurdsson of Norway, whom he defeated on Sept. 25, 1066, at Stamford Bridge near York. He then marched south to meet William, duke of Normandy, and was killed at the Battle of Hastings.

army Summary

Army, a large organized armed force trained for war, especially on land. The term may be applied to a large unit organized for independent action, or it may be applied to a nation’s or ruler’s complete military organization for land warfare. Throughout history, the character and organization of

Norman Conquest Summary

Norman Conquest, the military conquest of England by William, duke of Normandy, primarily effected by his decisive victory at the Battle of Hastings (October 14, 1066) and resulting ultimately in profound political, administrative, and social changes in the British Isles. The conquest was the final

Battle of Hastings Summary

Battle of Hastings, battle on October 14, 1066, that ended in the defeat of Harold II of England by William, duke of Normandy, and established the Normans as the rulers of England. Throughout his reign, the childless Edward the Confessor had used the absence of a clear successor to the throne as a

government Summary

Government, the political system by which a country or community is administered and regulated. Most of the key words commonly used to describe governments—words such as monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy—are of Greek or Roman origin. They have been current for more than 2,000 years and have not