Harold, the Last Anglo-Saxon KingSutton, 1997 - 258 páginas King Harold Godwineson (c. 1022-66) is one of history's shadowy figures, known mainly for his defeat and death at the battle of Hastings. His true status and achievements have been overshadowed by the events of October 1066 and by the bias imposed by the Norman victory. In reality, he deserves to be recalled as one of England's greatest rulers. Harold: The Last Anglo-Saxon King sets out to correct this distorted image by presenting Harold's life in its proper context, offering the first full-length critical study of his career in the years leading up to 1066. The book begins with an account of how Harold's father, Earl Godwine, rose to power amidst the confusion of Cnut's conquest of England and how he managed to retain that power despite a period of exile following a rebellion against Edward the Confessor in 1051-2. Like his father, Harold rose to power through royal service, successfully overcoming the problems arising from his father's rebellion to secure a position of power and influence as first deputy to the king. The childless Edward increasingly relied on Harold's diplomatic and military skills in establishing his rule, helping to secure the succession in the person of Edgar Atheling, putting down a long-standing threat from Fruffydd of Wales, and convincing the king to exile his own brother Tosti in the wider interests of the realm. Harold's reward came, when in the face of the threat from William of Normandy, Edward designated Harold as his successor rather than Edgar. The famously short reign of King Harold (nine months and nine days) was remarkably eventful: a series of attacks by his bitter and vengeful brother and two full-scale invasions, from Norway and Normandy. Any one of these might have overwhelmed a lesser ruler, but Harold overcame all but the last of them, and richly merits this reassessment of his place in history. Ian Walker presents a carefully researched critique of the sources for our knowledge of Harold, reconciling the distortions in the divergent 'English' and 'Norman' accounts available to modern commentators, allowing the reader to make a realistic assessment of Harold and his rival William and in the process enhancing our view of both. -- Inside jacket flaps. |
Índice
Chapter One FAMILY ORIGINS | 1 |
The lands of King Edward 1066 Blackwell Publishers | 7 |
Domesday Book and its chest Public Record Office | 13 |
Página de créditos | |
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Términos y frases comunes
11th Century Aethelric Anglo-Saxon appears appointment Archbishop army ASC C/D ASC C/D/E ASC D/E Atheling Edgar Barlow battle Bayeux Tapestry Beorn Bishop brother Canterbury Chronicle Church City of Bayeux Cnut Cnut's death Denmark diplomas Domesday Book Douglas Duke William Eadmer Eadric Ealdred Earl Aelfgar Earl Godwine Earl Harold Earl of Wessex Earl Ralph earldom East Anglia Edmund English Nobility estates exile favour fleet forces Godwine family Godwine's Gruffydd Gyrth Gytha Hardecnut Harold Harefoot Harold's sons Hastings heir held Herefordshire hostages huscarls invasion John of Worcester King Edward King Harold kingdom Kings and Lords later Leofwine London marriage Morcar Norman Conquest Northumbria Norway Norwegians oath perhaps position possible probably Queen Edith raid recorded royal seems shires Siward sources Stafford Stigand succession suggests Sussex Swein thegns threat throne Tosti Vita Eadwardi Wales Waltham Welsh Wessex William of Normandy William of Poitiers Wulfnoth
Referencias a este libro
History of Britain, A - Volume I: At the Edge of the World? 3000 B.C.--A.D. 1603 Simon Schama Vista de fragmentos - 2000 |
Anglo-Saxon England: Volume 27 Malcolm Godden,Michael Lapidge,Simon Keynes No hay ninguna vista previa disponible - 1999 |