Harold Godwinson's Invasion Of England

As England’s reigning monarch Edward the confessor should of in theory been head of the secular and spiritual affairs of England, and maintained complete control of the country. However, in practise Edward who had grown up in Normandy was a foreigner to English court and affairs. From the beginning of his rule he struggled to fully grasp all of his power. Harold Godwinson on the other hand had grown up under the wing of his father Godfrey Godwinson; an ambitious and ruthless man conquering the political ladder which lead to his success ultimately allowing him to surpass the King himself to become the most powerful and influential man in England. Harold understood the goings on of the English and had support from prominent earls and nobles

Slow pre-cautious planning meant that Harold was able to prevent the alliance between the King and a disgraced Earl of Anglia; refortify an attacked area and reach a peace deal. When even this was not enough to decrease the acute threat of the Welsh, Harold with his brother set out and attacked wales from either ends of the costal strip. He launched a full-scale invasion: blockading the coastline by cutting off Welsh support and supplies; taking an army to the north and another to the south and proceeding to meet in the middle, devastating the land adapting while additionally mastering the Welsh’s way of fighting which all resulted in their surrender and King Gruffydd’s head being presented to him by the enemy themselves. Harold’s ability to conquer the Welsh threat with such bravura paired with the fact this was only the introduction to his military portfolio granted him the reputation as a formidable warrior, able to endure hardship, lead men and kill. All these skills were desired for a powerful man in Anglo Saxon times. Besides the army that he raised, King Edwards input in this military campaign was non existent, and he was yet to prove to his subjects that he was equipped with the skills needed to defend his country. Not only had Harold set the scene for his impressive military credentials that were to follow, he had outshone Edward who had already been under the shadow of Harold’s father Godfrey prior to his