Long ago, a man named Harold was king.
He lived in England. He was a very fast runner. This is why people gave him a special name. He ruled for five years. Do you like to run fast too?
Long ago, a man named Harold was king.
He lived in England. People called him Harefoot. They said he was very fast.
Harold had a father named Cnut. Cnut was a great king. Harold ruled for five years.
Some people did not want him to be king. A leader named Godwin was against him. But Harold stayed in power.
Later, a man named Harthacnut became king. He was Harold's brother. The land was at peace again.
Harold Harefoot was the King of England from 1037 to 1040.
He was the son of King Cnut the Great. Some stories say Harold was not Cnut's real son. These stories say his mother used secrets to make Cnut believe it.
When Cnut died in 1035, Harold became a leader for England. His brother Harthacnut was the true heir. But Harthacnut was stuck in Denmark. He could not travel to England because of wars in Norway. Harold wanted to be king right away. An archbishop named Æthelnoth refused to crown him. This made Harold very angry. He even stopped going to church.
Harold finally became king in 1037. He had help from a man named Leofric. Many nobles also supported him. But some people, like Earl Godwin, did not like Harold. In 1036, two step-brothers named Edward and Alfred came to England. They had a large army.
Men loyal to Harold caught Alfred. Alfred died shortly after. Harold ruled for five years. He died in 1040. Then Harthacnut returned to rule the land.
Harold Harefoot was a king who ruled England from 1037 to 1040.
His nickname might mean he was very fast on his feet. He was the son of the famous King Cnut the Great. Some old stories say Harold was not actually Cnut's son. These stories claim his mother, Ælfgifu, used secrets to trick the king.
Modern writers wonder if these stories were just rumors meant to hurt his name.
When King Cnut died in 1035, a struggle for power began. Harold's half-brother, Harthacnut, was the rightful heir to the throne. However, Harthacnut could not leave Denmark because of wars in Norway. Harold stepped in to lead England while his brother was away. He wanted to be crowned king right away in 1035. An archbishop named Æthelnoth refused to perform the ceremony. This refusal made Harold very upset with the church.
Harold finally became the official king in 1037. He had strong support from many leaders, like Earl Leofric of Mercia.
Even so, the country was divided during his rule. Harold controlled the areas north of the River Thames. In the south, people still followed Harthacnut's name. Some nobles, like Earl Godwin, even switched sides during this time. This shows how hard it was to hold power back then.
In 1036, two step-brothers named Edward and Alfred arrived from Normandy. They brought a large military force with them. They may have come to claim the throne for themselves.
During this time, Alfred was captured by men loyal to Harold. He was taken to a place called Ely. Sadly, Alfred was blinded and died from his wounds soon after. This event changed how other leaders felt about the situation.
Harold's time as king lasted only five years. He died on March 17, 1040. After he passed away, Harthacnut finally returned to rule England peacefully. There is a strange story about how Harold was buried. He was first placed in Westminster, but later his body was moved. Eventually, he was reburied in a Danish cemetery in London. His life shows how much power mattered in the old days.
Harold Harefoot was the King of England from 1037 to 1040.
His nickname, "Harefoot," was recorded in the twelfth century in the history of Ely Abbey. Some medieval chroniclers believed the name meant he was "fleet of foot." Harold was the son of Cnut the Great and Ælfgifu of Northampton. After Cnut died in 1035, Harold was elected regent, which is a person who rules in place of a monarch. He initially ruled for his half-brother, Harthacnut, who could not leave Denmark due to a rebellion in Norway.
There is a historical debate regarding Harold's parentage. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle suggests Harold claimed to be Cnut's son, even though it was not true. The writer Florence of Worcester claimed that Ælfgifu secretly adopted children to pass them off as Cnut's heirs. One story says Harold was actually the son of a cobbler. However, modern author Harriet O'Brien doubts this story. She suggests it might be a myth used to damage his reputation. This defamation may have been started by Emma of Normandy, who was Cnut's other wife and a rival to Ælfgifu.
Harold's path to the throne was difficult and legally complex. He wanted to be crowned as early as 1035. However, Æthelnoth, the Archbishop of Canterbury, refused to perform the coronation. An archbishop's role was a legal requirement for becoming a king. Æthelnoth even placed the royal regalia, like the crown and sceptre, on an altar to prevent their use. This refusal caused Harold great distress. He reportedly rejected Christianity and avoided church services until he was officially proclaimed king in 1037. He gained this official title with the support of Earl Leofric of Mercia.
During his reign, England was politically divided. Harold controlled the lands north of the River Thames. The southern nobility, led by Godwin, Earl of Wessex, and Queen Emma, ruled in the name of Harthacnut.
To secure her son's position, Ælfgifu used bribes to win the loyalty of the nobles. This political maneuvering was common in the eleventh century. In that era, military power often determined who could hold a throne. Even if a person had a superior legal right to inherit, they could lose power if they lacked military support. Harold used this type of strength to maintain his rule against Harthacnut's claims.
In 1036, a significant conflict arose when Edward and Alfred arrived from Normandy. They brought a large military force to England.
Some historians believe they came to claim the throne for themselves. Others think Queen Emma may have invited them to challenge Harold. During this period, Alfred was captured by Earl Godwin. Alfred was handed over to men loyal to Harold and taken toward Ely. While on the journey, Alfred was blinded and died shortly after from his wounds. This event was a major moment in the struggle for the English crown.
Harold's reign lasted for five years until his death on March 17, 1040. After he died, Harthacnut returned to England and took control of the kingdom peacefully. The end of Harold's life involved a strange series of events regarding his burial. He was originally buried in Westminster. However, Harthacnut later had the body removed and thrown into a fen near the River Thames. A fisherman eventually recovered the body. It was finally reburied in a Danish cemetery located in London.
Harold's life provides insight into the complex systems of medieval succession. His rule shows how religious authority, such as the Archbishop's approval, interacted with political power. It also demonstrates how family rivalries and military strength shaped the borders of early England. The division between the north and the south during his reign highlights the regional differences in loyalty. Studying Harold helps us understand how leaders navigated the difficult transition of power following the death of a great monarch like Cnut.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (4)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.