King Harold II

King Harold II was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, reigning from 1066. He became king after Edward the Confessor and faced invasions from William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada of Norway. Harold's leadership was marked by the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where he defeated the Norwegians, but shortly afterward, he faced William’s Norman invasion. Harold's forces fought bravely at the Battle of Hastings but were defeated, leading to the Norman conquest of England. His short reign significantly changed English history, shaping the country's culture, governance, and language for centuries.