Assumption of the throne Harold Harefoot



the runestone sm 42, in småland, sweden, mentions harold harefoot.


harold reportedly sought coronation 1035. according encomium emmae reginae, however, Æthelnoth, archbishop of canterbury, refused crown harold harefoot. coronation archbishop legal requirement become king. Æthelnoth reportedly placed sceptre , crown on altar of temple, possibly of canterbury cathedral. offering consecrate harold without using of royal regalia have been empty honour. refused remove items altar , forbade other bishop doing so. tale goes on harold failed sway Æthelnoth, both bribes , threats proved ineffectual. despairing harold reportedly rejected christianity in protest. refused attend church services while uncrowned, preoccupying himself hunting , trivial matters.


the encomium stays silent on event reported anglo-saxon chronicle , other sources. harold accepted monarch in witenagemot held @ oxford. chief supporter in council leofric, earl of mercia, while opposition led godwin, earl of wessex. there evidence Ælfgifu of northampton attempting secure son s position through bribes nobles. in 1036, gunhilda of denmark, sister harthcanut , half-sister harold, married henry iii, king of germany. on occasion immo, priest serving @ court of holy roman empire, wrote letter azecho, bishop of worms. included information on situation in england, messengers there reporting Ælfgifu gaining support of leading aristocrats through pleas , bribery, binding them herself , harold oaths of loyalty.


initially kingdom of england divided between 2 half-brothers. harold ruled areas north of river thames, supported local nobility. southern nobility under godwin , emma continued ruled in name of absent harthacnut. anglo-saxon chronicle reports godwin , leading men of wessex opposed rule of harold ...as long could, not against it. north @ least on harold s side, in adherence terms of deal, godwin part of, emma settled in winchester, harthacnut s huscarls. harold sent , had taken best treasures of cnut great


the situation not last long, , godwin switched sides. william of malmesbury asserts godwin had been overwhelmed in power , in numbers harold. in 1037, emma of normandy fled bruges, flanders, , harold everywhere chosen king . details behind event obscure. account of anglo-saxon chronicle, version e, jumps harold being mere regent harold being sole king. versions c , d not make distinction between 2 phases. ian howard theorises death of svein knutsson have strengthened harold s position. went being second surviving son of cnut being eldest living, harthacnut still absent , unable press claim throne.


harold himself obscure; historian frank stenton considered probable mother Ælfgifu real ruler of england part or of reign. kelly devries points during high middle ages, royal succession in northern europe determined military power. eldest son of king have superior right of inheritance still lose throne younger brother, or other junior claimant, possessing greater military support. harold managed win throne against superior claim of harthacnut in way. 11th century provides other similar examples. magnus of norway (reigned 1035–1047), wasn t warlord, had reigned more decade when uncle harald hardrada (reigned 1047–1066) challenged rule. harald being famous military leader, claim end magnus reign early. baldwin vi, count of flanders (reigned 1067–1070) succeeded brother robert (reigned 1071–1093), rather own sons. robert curthose, duke of normandy (reigned 1087–1106) lost throne of england younger brothers william ii (reigned 1087–1100) , henry (reigned 1100–1135).


with kingdom of england practically owned harold, harthacnut not approach without securing sufficient military strength. decision remain in denmark points him lacking sufficient support, though wait opportunity forcefully assert claim , depose half-brother. harold reigned sole king 1037 1040. there few surviving documents events of reign. anglo-saxon chronicle covers church matters, such deaths , appointments of bishops , archbishops. there is, however, record of skirmish between anglo-saxons , welsh in 1039. named casualties eadwine (edwin), brother leofric, earl of mercia, thurkil, , Ælfgeat. there no other details concerning event. in 1039, there mention of great gale, again no details.








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