King Harold’s Sister Gunhild (d. 1087), a Royal Exile in Flanders
Elisabeth van Houts
Abstract This article is a study of the life Gunhild (d. 1087), sister King Harold, who, together with her mother Gytha, sought exile in Flanders after Norman Conquest; it set wider context fate high-status elite or royal women post-Conquest England. Gunhild’s lead burial plaque inscription (found tomb church St Donatian Bruges) constitutes unique testimony to aftermath Conquest. Her Latin obituary, longest known on for an eleventh-century woman, consists biographical sketch and family, including brother’s death, itinerary exile, while second half near-hagiographical account as woman religious; new edition English translation are included appendix. The analyses historical, literary material aspects life, evidence from archive considerable wealth she bequeathed canons return church’s wall. It suggested that religious lived penitential foreign soil not least pay sins defeated by Normans. Comparison other (and men) suggests that, defiantly uniquely, Gytha rejected accommodation Conqueror instead followed path abroad, more commonly chosen men.
The English Historical Review