The Last Anglo-Saxon King | Harold Godwinson

Harold Godwinson, the last Saxon king of England, his legacy often eclipsed by the bitter defeat at the Battle of Hastings. Yet, this singular, bloody day does not define the man. Harold was a warrior of unparalleled ferocity, a general whose strategic genius brought the Viking Age to a brutal end. His victory over Harald Hardrada, the last great Viking king, was a clash drenched in blood and thunder resulting in many tales both in Viking sagas and in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Harold would also conquer Wales and had a life that unfolded amidst one of England's most turbulent eras, a time rife with the fall of dynasties and the relentless uncertainty of fate. His legacy is one of immense victory, but also of crushing defeat, fighting to the bitter end. This is the story of the last saxon king Harold Godwinson.

00:00 Introduction
01:15 Ancestry & Early Life
06:15 Rise to Power
15:07 Harold's Conquest of Wales
18:12 The Oath that would haunt Harold
20:54 Harold's strife with his brother Tostig
22:45 English Crown in Turmoil
29:01 The End of the Viking Age
38:54 The Battle of Hastings & The Last Anglo-Saxon King

#historyprofiles #haroldgodwinson #williamtheconqueror #hardrada #battleofhastings #stamfordbridge #godwins #anglosaxon #history #englishhistory #normans #king #kingofengland #kings #conquest

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Sources:
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

[karigirl]

Harold Godwinson is one of the most interesting and heroic figures of the Middle Ages. He isn’t given nearly enough credit for the role he played in forging the England that was such a tempting prize to so many. I wish someone would make a big budget feature film on his life and impressive accomplishments.

[jaredtindall]

The fact that Harold chose what the people wanted over his brother shows you he would have been a fair ruler. Long live Harold the last Saxon King of England!

[BSdetected]

Perhaps the most under rated king of England.

[karigirl]

I’ll never understand why the life and legacy of King Harold Godwinson isn’t celebrated to this day. He’s one of the greatest men England has ever produced.

[RolfRobertson]

Glad this video came out, I needed a break form the history that the world is experiencing at the moment. Thanks.

[aarondemiri]

Massive respect to Harold Godwinson a fitting man to be the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings.

[MrMomo]

Emma of Normandy, as well as being William's great-aunt, was Aethelred's second queen, by whom she was mother of Alfred Aetheling and Edward Confessor. She later married Cnut, by whom she was mother of Harthacnut. Edmund Ironside's mother was Aethelred's first queen, Aelfgifu of York. Their line rejoins the royal line when Margaret of Scotland's daughter Matilda married William's youngest son, Henry I, uniting all the bloodlines.

[Elke-jm]

You only bring magnificent histories. Thank you for making the weekend awesome! All the best History Profiles

[sableslife]

I love all your stories and your voice is one that makes it most awesome to listen to along with the background music, all of your stories are wonderful!

[fablaids]

Literally came from watching Vikings Valhalla (for the second time) to this upload! 🎉😊

[danielsantiagourtado]

Thanks For this! Love your content 😊😊😊

[Andy_Babb]

STOKED! I love these videos on the earliest kings of the various kingdoms and early monarchy! Thank you!

[archerbyrne]

Thank you for this. Not sure it's the right niche but if anyone's veritably obsessed with Anglo-Saxon warfare and society I strongly recommend Schwerpunkt. Especially the military stuff rocks. Keep up with the amazing work.

[ssrmy]

The Vikings had already left their genetic legacy on the island of Britain by 1066. Harold Godwinson was himself half-Viking. Then again, it all circles back anyway because the Scandinavians are a Germanic people by ancestry. In other words, the people at Hastings were culturally different, but ethnically fairly similar.

[firststepsfreedom]

A great watch thank you for such detailed well presented work

[MWB-storyteller]

This is EPIC and in depth, 👍🍻 cheers man

[dundundun]

Timing of hadrada’s invasion could not have been worse

[-RONNIE]

Thank you for the video & I appreciate the work you put in on it.

[michaeldpa]

You have to wonder how different England would be today in Modern Times had the Kingship dynasty stayed with the Anglo-Saxon lineage.

One can only wonder! So many cultures blended over generations into the Modern Englishman and woman.

So much cultural legacy! The same for Scotland and Ireland.

[elainealibrandi]

Excellent video! I read a lot of history, but I didn't know much of what was presented here. Thanks!