King Harold: tragic hero of the English

About this episode

King Harold II of England – otherwise known as Harold Godwinson – famously died at the battle of Hastings, with his demise at the hands of Duke William of Normandy ushering in a new Norman era. Speaking to David Musgrove, historian Tom Licence draws on his new biography of the Anglo-Saxon king to explore Harold’s military experience, and investigate his complicated family and political ties. He also revisits the rival invasions of 1066, asks whether Harold could have won at Hastings, and examines what the Bayeux Tapestry and later legends tell us about his death – and his place in England’s national memory. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST You can hear Tom Licence reconsider King Harold's role in the battle of Stamford bridge here: https://bit.ly/4rFtFQy ----- GET MORE WITH MEMBERSHIP Become a HistoryExtra podcast member and unlock access to The Full Story podcast, plus enjoy ad-free listening, early access to other podcast episodes, and a member-exclusive newsletter. Find out more and sign up here: ⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm⁠ ----- EXPLORE MORE For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out m