Events on January 6 in history

Harold Godwinson (January 6, 1066)

Harold Godwinson (or Harold II) is crowned King of England.

Harold Godwinson (c. 1022 – 14 October 1066), also called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon English king. Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings, fighting the Norman invaders led by William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England. His death marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule over England.

Harold Godwinson was a member of a prominent Anglo-Saxon family with ties to Cnut the Great. He became a powerful earl after the death of his father, Godwin, Earl of Wessex. After his brother-in-law, King Edward the Confessor, died without an heir on 5 January 1066, the Witenagemot convened and chose Harold to succeed him; he was probably the first English monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey. In late September, he successfully repelled an invasion by rival claimant Harald Hardrada of Norway in York before marching his army back south to meet William the Conqueror at Hastings two weeks later.

References

Harold Godwinson

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Events on 1066

5 Jan

Norman conquest of England
Edward the Confessor dies childless, sparking a succession crisis that will eventually lead to the Norman conquest of England.
27 Sep

Norman conquest of England
William the Conqueror and his army set sail from the mouth of the River Somme, beginning the Norman conquest of England.
28 Sep

Norman conquest of England
William the Conqueror invades England beginning the Norman conquest of England.
14 Oct

Battle of Hastings
Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings: In England on Senlac Hill, seven miles from Hastings, the Norman forces of William the Conqueror defeat the English army and kill King Harold II of England.