Harold II (Harold Godwinson)

Harold II, also known as Harold Godwinson, was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, reigning in 1066. He was a skilled nobleman and military leader from a powerful family and emerged as king after Edward the Confessor's death. His reign was short and marked by intense conflict, including the famous Battle of Hastings, where William the Conqueror invaded England. Harold's leadership and decisions during this critical period significantly shaped English history, ending Anglo-Saxon rule and starting Norman influence. His death at Hastings marked the end of his reign and the beginning of Norman England.