Hvem erobrede england i år 1066 ad?
Harald III af Norge
Norman conquest of England
Da kong Edward døde i begyndelsen af 1066, førte manglen på en klar arving til en omstridt arvefølge, hvor flere kandidater gjorde krav på Englands trone. Edwards umiddelbare efterfølger var jarlen af Wessex, Harold Godwinson, den rigeste og mest magtfulde af de engelske aristokrater. Harold blev valgt til konge af Witenagemot af England og kronet af ærkebiskoppen af York, Ealdred, selv om normannisk propaganda hævdede, at ceremonien blev udført af Stigand, den ikke-kanonisk valgte ærkebiskop af Canterbury. Harold blev straks udfordret af to magtfulde naboherskere. Hertug William hævdede, at han var blevet lovet tronen af kong Edward, og at Harold havde svoret at acceptere dette; kong Harald III af Norge, almindeligvis kendt som Harald Hardrada, bestred også arvefølgen. Hans krav på tronen var baseret på en aftale mellem hans forgænger, Magnus den Gode, og den tidligere engelske konge, Harthacnut, hvorefter hvis en af dem døde uden arving, skulle den anden arve både England og Norge.[a] Vilhelm og Harald gik straks i gang med at samle tropper og skibe for at invadere England.[b]
Harald III of Norway
Norman conquest of England
When King Edward died at the beginning of 1066, the lack of a clear heir led to a disputed succession in which several contenders laid claim to the throne of England. Edward's immediate successor was the Earl of Wessex, Harold Godwinson, the richest and most powerful of the English aristocrats. Harold was elected king by the Witenagemot of England and crowned by the Archbishop of York, Ealdred, although Norman propaganda claimed the ceremony was performed by Stigand, the uncanonically elected Archbishop of Canterbury. Harold was immediately challenged by two powerful neighbouring rulers. Duke William claimed that he had been promised the throne by King Edward and that Harold had sworn agreement to this; King Harald III of Norway, commonly known as Harald Hardrada, also contested the succession. His claim to the throne was based on an agreement between his predecessor, Magnus the Good, and the earlier English king, Harthacnut, whereby if either died without heir, the other would inherit both England and Norway.[a] William and Harald at once set about assembling troops and ships to invade England.[b]
Norman conquest of England