Harold II

1022 – 1066

Harold Godwinson, known as Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, reigning from January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066. He took the throne after the death of Edward the Confessor and within months defeated a Norwegian invasion at the Battle of Stamford Bridge before marching south to meet William of Normandy. His death at Hastings ended Anglo-Saxon rule of England and inaugurated the Norman Conquest, marking one of the most consequential turning points in English history.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM