Harold Godwinson used politics to become King of England, however, his reign would soon end when he faced William the Conqueror on the Battlefield of Hastings, 1066
Although Harold Godwinson was born around the year 1022, it is important to go back a few years further to fully understand his rise to power. In the year 1016, Cnut, King of Denmark and Norway invaded and conquered England. In order to effectively run this new province of his empire, Cnut employed a number of Englishmen, some of whom he promoted to the level of Earl. First among these Englishmen was a man named Godwin, who was made Earl of Wessex.
As the years passed, Godwin slowly added to his power through strategic alliances and marriages. As kingship passed from Cnut, through his sons Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut, to Edward the Confessor, Godwin carefully supported the winner on each occasion. By the time King Edward came over from Normandy to take the crown of England, Godwin was arguably the most powerful man in England. But Godwin and Edward did not get along.
Edward, who was half English, had grown up in Normandy and brought over many Normans to serve in his court and to take powerful religious posts. Earl Godwin became the defector leader of an England for the English movement. Once, in 1051 the clash between the Earl and the King became so severe, that Godwin was forced to flee England. He did not stay away long, and Edward did not have the power to keep him away without threatening to take the country into civil war.
In 1053, Godwin died and his Earldom and his power were transferred to his oldest living son, Harold. Harold Godwinson picked up where his father left off, continuing to manipulate events in England so as to increase his own power and the power of his family. At various times, all three of his brothers also held Earldoms in England. It is impossible to say for sure, but it is likely that Harold had set his sites on the throne of England, though he had only a very tenuous (if any) connection to any royal line.
Harold was not without his rivals, and foremost among them was William of Normandy, later William the Conqueror. William and Edward were friends, and it was thought by many that Edward intended William to succeed him. In 1054 Harold and William had their first confrontation, but exactly how it came about is still a greatly debated topic among historians. Some say that Harold was sent by King Edward as his envoy to William in order to confirm William as his successor. Others say that Harold was actually sailing to another part of England when his ship was blown off course.
Either way, Harold accidentally washed up on the shores of one of William's vassals and was immediately taken prisoner. William arranged for Harold's release, but soon after made him swear loyalty to him. There is no way of knowing exactly what Harold swore on that day, but whatever it was, it was certainly under duress. After this oath, Harold returned to England.
A short time later, in 1066, King Edward the Confessor died without an heir. Harold claimed that on his death bed King Edward had named his as his successor. It's unknown if anyone believed this story, but whatever the case, Harold's claim was confirmed by a gathering of the English nobility and he was soon crowned king.
Harold's reign was a short and bloody affair, but that is a story in and of itself...
