Harald Harefoot: Difference between revisions
m (table and category) |
Paul Matisz (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Harefoot''' -- the name was a ''kenning'' referring to his speed and agility in the hunt -- was a son of [[Canute the Great|King Canute]] of [[Denmark]] and [[England]], and Aelgifu of Northampton. Unfortunately she appears only to have been a bed-warmer not a wife (Canute's wife being Emma of [[Normandy]], widow to [[Aethelred Unraed|Aethelred Ill-Counsel]] or ''the Unready''); Harold was accordingly illegitimate and Canute made his legitimate son, [[Hardicanute|Harthacanute]], his heir. |
'''Harald Harefoot''' -- the [[name]] was a ''[[kenning]]'' referring to his speed and agility in the [[hunting|hunt]] -- was a son of [[Canute the Great|King Canute]] of [[Denmark]] and [[England]], and Aelgifu of Northampton. Unfortunately she appears only to have been a bed-warmer not a wife (Canute's wife being Emma of [[Normandy]], widow to [[Aethelred Unraed|Aethelred Ill-Counsel]] or ''the Unready''); Harold was accordingly illegitimate and Canute made his legitimate son, [[Hardicanute|Harthacanute]], his [[heir]]. |
||
However, when Canute died, in 1035, Harold was able to seize power in England, whilst his brother was tidying up Denmark, and he obtained the position of Harthacnute's [[regent]] in [[England]] in 1036. Regrettably ambition outran brotherly loyalties and in the following year, having disagreed with Emma over her sharing rule with him, and with his own mother's backing, Harold laid claim to the |
However, when Canute died, in 1035, Harold was able to seize power in England, whilst his brother was tidying up Denmark, and he obtained the position of Harthacnute's [[regent]] in [[England]] in 1036. Regrettably ambition outran brotherly loyalties and in the following year, having disagreed with Emma over her sharing rule with him, and with his own mother's backing, Harold laid claim to the [[king]]ly [[title]]. He ruled for three years, dying in 1040, when his brother was on the point of invading. He was buried at [[Westminster]] but Harthacanute obviously felt that this wasn't the proper place for him. The body was exhumed and thrown into a stagnant fen. |
||
His reign seems to have been a time of tumult and of violence: certainly one of his half-brothers, Alfred, one of Emma's sons by Aethelred, was killed when he came to England from [[Normandy]], at about the time Harefoot was negotiating his election as king. Emma's other son by Aethelred was [[Edward the Confessor|Edward]], who was to become Harthacanute's heir, and king of England in turn. |
His [[reign]] seems to have been a time of tumult and of violence: certainly one of his half-brothers, Alfred, one of Emma's sons by Aethelred, was killed when he came to England from [[Normandy]], at about the time Harefoot was negotiating his [[becoming king|election as king]]. Emma's other son by Aethelred was [[Edward the Confessor|Edward]], who was to become Harthacanute's heir, and [[English Monarchs|king of England]] in turn. |
||
He never married, but a son of his may have become a monk on the Continent. |
He never [[marriage|married]], but a son of his may have become a [[monk]] on the Continent. |
||
| Line 12: | Line 13: | ||
<td width = 30% align = center> |
<td width = 30% align = center> |
||
Preceded by:<br>[[Canute the Great]] |
Preceded by:<br>[[Canute the Great]] |
||
</td> |
|||
<td width = 40% align = center> |
<td width = 40% align = center> |
||
[[English Monarchs]] |
[[English Monarchs]] |
||
</td> |
|||
<td width = 30% align = center> |
<td width = 30% align = center> |
||
Succeeded by:<br>[[Hardicanute]] |
Succeeded by:<br>[[Hardicanute]] |
||
</td> |
|||
</tr> |
|||
</table> |
</table> |
||
</center> |
</center> |
||
[[Category:monarchs (medieval)]] |
[[Category:monarchs (medieval)]] |
||
[[Category:people (medieval)]] |
|||
[[Category:11th century]] |
|||
Latest revision as of 14:14, 23 July 2008
Harald Harefoot -- the name was a kenning referring to his speed and agility in the hunt -- was a son of King Canute of Denmark and England, and Aelgifu of Northampton. Unfortunately she appears only to have been a bed-warmer not a wife (Canute's wife being Emma of Normandy, widow to Aethelred Ill-Counsel or the Unready); Harold was accordingly illegitimate and Canute made his legitimate son, Harthacanute, his heir.
However, when Canute died, in 1035, Harold was able to seize power in England, whilst his brother was tidying up Denmark, and he obtained the position of Harthacnute's regent in England in 1036. Regrettably ambition outran brotherly loyalties and in the following year, having disagreed with Emma over her sharing rule with him, and with his own mother's backing, Harold laid claim to the kingly title. He ruled for three years, dying in 1040, when his brother was on the point of invading. He was buried at Westminster but Harthacanute obviously felt that this wasn't the proper place for him. The body was exhumed and thrown into a stagnant fen.
His reign seems to have been a time of tumult and of violence: certainly one of his half-brothers, Alfred, one of Emma's sons by Aethelred, was killed when he came to England from Normandy, at about the time Harefoot was negotiating his election as king. Emma's other son by Aethelred was Edward, who was to become Harthacanute's heir, and king of England in turn.
He never married, but a son of his may have become a monk on the Continent.
|
Preceded by: |
Succeeded by: |
