Harold Godwinson

Harold Godwinson came from one of England's most powerful noble families; his father Godwin had been made earl of Wessex by King Cnut the Great, and Harold inherited the earldom when Godwin died. He served first as earl of East Anglia before stepping into his father's greater title. When his brother-in-law Edward the Confessor died childless on 5 January 1066, the Witenagemot chose Harold to succeed him, and he was crowned the next day - probably the first English monarch crowned in Westminster Abbey. In late September he crushed an invasion by Norwegian claimant Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York, then force-marched his army south to meet William of Normandy. On 14 October 1066, nine months into his reign, Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings. William the Conqueror took the throne, and the Anglo-Saxon line ended with Harold on that field.