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The English Monarchs
Harold: Warrior King
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26An 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
Expected publication September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
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
Displaying 1 of 1 review