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The English Monarchs
Harold: Warrior King
An authoritative life of Harold II, the king who died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
Harold Godwinson is renowned as the king who lost England to the invading William the Conqueror in 1066. Infamous legends, invented by the Victorians, surround his life, and have corrupted our idea of him. But who was the real Harold II?
In this major new biography, Tom Licence reveals the truth behind the nineteenth-century myths. Moving from Harold’s childhood and his adventures as an earl in Edward the Confessor’s court, to his nine-month reign and the bloody battles at its end, Licence rewrites the story of his life at every turn. We see Harold’s rupture with his family, his cultivation of alliances, and his political interventions at home and overseas. He seized the throne as a skilled political leader who was the prime candidate to unite a realm divided by rebellion. And, when war came to English shores, Harold managed the conflict as well as any commander could.
Harold Godwinson is renowned as the king who lost England to the invading William the Conqueror in 1066. Infamous legends, invented by the Victorians, surround his life, and have corrupted our idea of him. But who was the real Harold II?
In this major new biography, Tom Licence reveals the truth behind the nineteenth-century myths. Moving from Harold’s childhood and his adventures as an earl in Edward the Confessor’s court, to his nine-month reign and the bloody battles at its end, Licence rewrites the story of his life at every turn. We see Harold’s rupture with his family, his cultivation of alliances, and his political interventions at home and overseas. He seized the throne as a skilled political leader who was the prime candidate to unite a realm divided by rebellion. And, when war came to English shores, Harold managed the conflict as well as any commander could.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 31, 2026
Big shout to Yale for filling in a hole in the Monarch Series that needed filling and for giving Tom Licence the job of doing it. I feel that I've read quite a bit about 11th century England and the period of the Norman Conquest. Harold is a familiar figure, but this biography fleshed him out more than anything else I've read despite there still being not a lot we don't know. For example, we know Harold visited the continent a couple of times, one of which is able to be pieced together, but there's still a lot of unknowns.
Then there's 1066. One of the most famous years in all of history and I'd say the last 100 pages of the book is all about this. Licence does a great job piecing together Harold's actions here and even trying to shed some light on his short lived reign. Things really pick up though in those lost couple of months as the book covers Harold vs Hardrada followed by Harold turning south to face William. As mentioned above, Harold's story is familiar to me, but this book fleshed him out a bit more as a historical figure. What this book also succeeds at it is fleshing out the campaign against Hardrada. I've feel like I've read enough books covering what happens in 1066, but none of them went into as much detail as this book did during this crucial phase. Very good stuff. Then of course there's the turn south to face William culminating in Hastings. I would say anyone reading this book is likely familiar with Hastings. There isn't a whole lot new here, but I did feel I got some new insights into Harold's preparations, the death of Harold, and what happened to his body (it wasn't pretty).
Anyway, this is a great book and worth picking up for anyone interesting learning about 11th century England. I also really enjoyed Licence's writing. This isn't his first entry into the Yale Monarch Series. Previously he wrote the biography on Edward the Confessor. So Licence writing the biography on Harold is fitting. He keeps things simple, but sometimes employs some descriptive flair to give you a visualization of things and it is done quite well in this book. I don't know how long it will take me to shake the mental image of mostly unarmored Norsemen getting slimed as Gen Z would say at Stamford Bridge, so thanks for that.
Enough rambling, this is a must read.
Then there's 1066. One of the most famous years in all of history and I'd say the last 100 pages of the book is all about this. Licence does a great job piecing together Harold's actions here and even trying to shed some light on his short lived reign. Things really pick up though in those lost couple of months as the book covers Harold vs Hardrada followed by Harold turning south to face William. As mentioned above, Harold's story is familiar to me, but this book fleshed him out a bit more as a historical figure. What this book also succeeds at it is fleshing out the campaign against Hardrada. I've feel like I've read enough books covering what happens in 1066, but none of them went into as much detail as this book did during this crucial phase. Very good stuff. Then of course there's the turn south to face William culminating in Hastings. I would say anyone reading this book is likely familiar with Hastings. There isn't a whole lot new here, but I did feel I got some new insights into Harold's preparations, the death of Harold, and what happened to his body (it wasn't pretty).
Anyway, this is a great book and worth picking up for anyone interesting learning about 11th century England. I also really enjoyed Licence's writing. This isn't his first entry into the Yale Monarch Series. Previously he wrote the biography on Edward the Confessor. So Licence writing the biography on Harold is fitting. He keeps things simple, but sometimes employs some descriptive flair to give you a visualization of things and it is done quite well in this book. I don't know how long it will take me to shake the mental image of mostly unarmored Norsemen getting slimed as Gen Z would say at Stamford Bridge, so thanks for that.
Enough rambling, this is a must read.
Review of advance copy
I think his research on the Battle of Hastings is going to be pretty groundbreaking, where Harold sailed not marched in, due to the forced march never happening.
The English fleet which had been stationed in the English Channel through the summer of 1066, in case of invasion 'came home'.
Victorian historians felt it meant that warships were sent back to their home port around the country, and they felt the Harold essentially disbanded the flood and then heard that Hardrada, one of the most feared warriors landed in the north. So the assumption was that he was without a fleet and had to march troops around.
There are multiple references that show that Harold had a fleet, and historians tries to explain it away in different ways. Lucerne couldn't really see any contemporary sources for evidence of a long march northwards which would be the most famous march in English history, and central to the debate around Harold's defeat.
As the Guardian put it
"Harold simply sailed his armies to Yorkshire and back"
"this new discovery that Harold maintained his fleet right up until the Battle of Hastings highlights the central importance of maritime aspects to the events of 1077, which have largely been overlooked in scholarship to date."
"it is clearly a fascinating discovery that following the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Harold took an easier, more logical, trip south by ship to see Duke William in battle, rather than a long trek overland, as has long been supposed"
so he was more of a strategist than a reactive commander
stay tuned!
/////
oops 1077 was a typo
but I like it!
and kept it
I guess I have to do more 11pm finger exercises
sigh
The English fleet which had been stationed in the English Channel through the summer of 1066, in case of invasion 'came home'.
Victorian historians felt it meant that warships were sent back to their home port around the country, and they felt the Harold essentially disbanded the flood and then heard that Hardrada, one of the most feared warriors landed in the north. So the assumption was that he was without a fleet and had to march troops around.
There are multiple references that show that Harold had a fleet, and historians tries to explain it away in different ways. Lucerne couldn't really see any contemporary sources for evidence of a long march northwards which would be the most famous march in English history, and central to the debate around Harold's defeat.
As the Guardian put it
"Harold simply sailed his armies to Yorkshire and back"
"this new discovery that Harold maintained his fleet right up until the Battle of Hastings highlights the central importance of maritime aspects to the events of 1077, which have largely been overlooked in scholarship to date."
"it is clearly a fascinating discovery that following the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Harold took an easier, more logical, trip south by ship to see Duke William in battle, rather than a long trek overland, as has long been supposed"
so he was more of a strategist than a reactive commander
stay tuned!
/////
oops 1077 was a typo
but I like it!
and kept it
I guess I have to do more 11pm finger exercises
sigh
October 24, 2026
While I do not agree with all of the author's conclusions and was disappointed to see a small handful of topics only lightly touched on, it must be said that this book yet stands as a great accomplishment. Compared to what has preceded it, this may be the first genuine biography of Harold Godwinson in that it is the only one to date which presents him as a real person rather than an embodiment of virtue or vice. Licence's interrogation of the sources is penetrating and masterful, enabling him to bring to light details which even most longtime students of Harold's will have missed.
November 2, 2026
Scholarly treatment of Harold Godwinson - his background, lineage, and progression from Earl to King. Very thourough. I especially enjoyed his comparison of various versions of the Anglo Saxon Chronical.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews