2007-01-02 01:26:43 · 7 answers · asked by david a 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Harold Godwinson (aka King Harold). His father acquired loads of land, and then when he was chosen to be king he also got all the kingly-type lands as well. If Harold hadn't been king before William then William would have had a lot more problems, because he would have had an immensely powerful baron (or whatever) as an "underling" and potential threat. As it was he not only inherited all of the crown lands, but also all of Harolds (for some reason), so the other barons couldn't really oppose him. Or something like that - it's been a while.
2007-01-02 01:58:32 · answer #1 · answered by Alex 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The original 'earls' were Angle sub-kings or ealdormen who would be subject to a Mercian 'over-king' like Penda in the mid 6th cent..their names are lost to history, save the districts from whence they came. Who now speaks of the Huicce and the Huiccewuddu where they once lived?
You would most likely be thinking of the Danish Eorl Godwine of Wessex who by confronting Edward the Confessor, paved the way for his son Harold to take the English throne. In fact, so firmly established was the house of Godwine that it would have taken an act of war to see that bastard Duke of Normandy on the English throne.
2007-01-02 19:27:03 · answer #2 · answered by troothskr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Harold Godwineson was definitely the most powerful. As someone else answered, the Godwine family had most of the power in England during the reign of Edward the Confessor. Godwine himself was most powerful until his death. Part of his power came from being able to get his sons, all powerful land holders in their own rights, to act with him. At his death in 1053, the sons stopped acting in unison. When Edward the Confessor died in 1066, Harold grabbed the throne of England. At that time he controlled his own lands as well as the royal demesne (pronounced domain).
Two groups of people challenged his claims to the throne: the vikings led by Harold Hadrada and Harold's brother, Tostig; the other was led by William the Conqueror (or should I say 'the Bastard' since he wasn't 'the Conqueror' until after his 1066 conquest). Harold defeated the Scandinavians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, in which he gained the lands of his brother Tostig and seemed to be an invincible force. However, Harold had to quickly race from the Battle of Stamford Bridge in the extreme North all the way to meet the second invasion of William's at Hastings in the extreme South. Some have argued that Harold and his troops were too tired from this long haul to put up a strong fight. At the Battle of Hastings, the fighting was very close, but Harold was killed along with two of his brothers who had helped him win the Battle of Stamford Bridge. The Godwine family was completely wiped out, and William, now the Conqueror, took over all of their lands. He used their lands to give out as rewards for the Normans who were loyal to him.
2007-01-02 12:50:13 · answer #3 · answered by medievalamy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Harold Godwinsson a Danish earl who had himself proclaimed king after Edward cedwic the king died in 1066 , who then went on to destroy Harald Hardrada the Danish king , and was then killed with an arrow in the eye at the battle of Hastings , by William the conquer of Normandy
2007-01-02 12:02:10 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other Saxon earl was Leofric of Mercia best known now for his wife Godgifu or Godiva.
2007-01-04 05:46:27 · answer #5 · answered by David P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most probably Leofric the Dane...he owned vast tracts of land around Northumbria.
Or it could have been one of the Godwinsons, they were very powerful to.
Its pretty hard to say exactly WHO was the more powerful.
2007-01-02 09:32:17 · answer #6 · answered by wombat2u2004 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wouldn't it be Harold of Saxony before he got displaced by the Norman duke?
2007-01-02 09:35:59 · answer #7 · answered by Sick Puppy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋