On this day in … 1066


On 6 January 1066, Harold Godwineson was crowned as Harold II, King of England. He would spend the next nine months defending his kingdom from attack. In the north, he had to fend off an invasion from King Harald III Hardraade of Norway. Then, in the south, he would have to fight William of Normandy. He couldn’t defeat this second invader. England would have a second coronation in 1066 – William was crowned on Christmas Day of 1066.

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