Harold, son of Canute, 1035 to 1040. HAROLD, THE HAREFOOT. As long as Canute lived his extensive territories enjoyed freedom from foreign invasion and civil strife. It would appear that from his royal seat at Winchester his eagle eye quelled every foe, and that his iron hand was felt from Cornwall to the Orkneys, from the islands of the west to Denmark, and from the frozen regions of Norway to the sun-lit plains of Italy. But the breath had no sooner left his body than his mighty empire became as disunited as a bundle of faggots deprived of its encircling band. Canute had bestowed the kingdon of Denmark1 upon his son Hardicanute during his life-time; and that of Norway upon his son Sweyn. They were their father's representatives. For the throne of England the following were now eligible: Edward, son of Edmund the Ironside; Alfred, and Edward, the sons of Ethelred the Unready; Harold, and Hardicanute, the sons of Canute. A strong party were in favour of Godwin, son of "Child" Wulfnoth, but the wary and loyal earl1 rejected their 1 Flor. of Worcester. 2 Matt. of Westminster. Vita Æduardi Regis qui apud Westmonastericum requiescit: according to this Biography certain nobles tried to persuade Godwin to seize the crown whilst Canute was absent from England. * The Danish kings appeared to have changed the term "ealdorman" to that of "earl:" thus, in the first year of Canute's reign, Edric is termed "the ealdorman;" but in 1036 we read of Godwin "the earl."--Saxon Chronicle. flattering suggestion. The popular candidates were Harold and Hardicanute, as, in consequence of their long absence from England, Alfred and the two Edwards were looked upon as strangers and aliens. A Witan was held at Oxford. The Danes and the citizens of London,1 headed by Leofric, earl of Mercia, Leofric. took the part of Harold; the Saxons, headed by Godwin, Godwin. earl of Wessex, desired to elect Hardicanute, or one of the sons of Ethelred. After much discussion it was decreed that Harold should rule as "chief of all England," and that Emma should dwell at Winchester and hold all Wessex in the name of her son Hardicanute: Godwin was the commander of her army. son of This division of England was made in the year 1035. In the following year* Alfred, the eldest son of Emma of Alfred. Normandy, made an attempt to gain the throne of his Ethelred. ancestors. With the help of a small fleet he conducted many Norman knights into England. It was given out that he wished to consult his mother at Winchester, and also the king in London: perhaps he expected that Emma would espouse his cause, as his half-brother continued to stay in Denmark, and that Harold would permit him to rule Wessex in the place of Hardicanute. Whatever his expectations were they were not realized. By Godwin and the Saxons Alfred was looked upon as a perfect stranger. During a sojourn of twenty years 1 Will. of Malmesbury. 2 Saxon Chronicle. 3 Henry of Huntingdon. * Saxon Chronicle, Flor. of Worcester, &c.; Will. of Malmesbury states that Alfred entered England after the death of Harold. Henry of Huntingdon affirms that he landed upon our shores after the death of Hardicanute. Matthew of Westminster affirms that Alfred came to England in 1036, with 25 picked ships full of armed men, and that his intention was to take possession of his father's kingdom, which was his right, in a peaceable manner if possible, but by force of arms if necessary. 5 Flor. of Worcester. Murder of Alfred, 1036, in Normandy he had forgotten the Saxon, and had adopted the Norman language and customs. By the Danes he was contemned, as a member of that royal family that had been overcome by their rulers. It is not surprising, therefore, that his arrival was viewed with distrust and suspicion by all parties in England; more especially as the force that accompanied him was too numerous to afford him the excuse that he had come upon a friendly errand. This force was calculated to inspire alarm, and its appearance caused both Saxon and Dane to conclude that the Atheling was determined to acquire by might' what was his by right.2 3 Alfred was seized. Godwin was accused of betraying the Atheling. The same accusation was brought against Living, Bishop of Crediton. One writer1 states that Godwin determined upon the destruction of Alfred, because he wished to marry his daughter to his brother Edward, as he thought that Alfred would scorn such a union, and that he prevailed upon the Saxons to fall upon the Normans, by whispering in their ears that Alfred had brought too many foreign followers, that he had promised them the lands of the Saxons, that it was not safe to allow so bold and crafty a race to take root among them, and that these foreigners should be punished so as to prevent others at some future time intruding among the Saxons, on the ground that they were related to the royal race of England. Guildford was the scene of Alfred's capture. The Saxon Atheling was received by Godwin with the kiss of Judas,1 who provided him and his followers with a 1 Matt. of Westminster. 2 As the eldest son of Ethelred the Unready. 4 banquet. That night they were seized and decimated1 twice over, and the survivors with Alfred were sent to Murder of Harold, who caused the former to be killed and the Alfred, latter to be blinded. The Saxon Chronicle comments upon this massacre and mutilation as follows: "But Godwin him3 in bonds set; and his companions he dispersed some did they bind. 1036. some did they blind, some did they scalp. It was decreed that he should be led To Elybury. Soon as he came to land in the ship he was blinded; and him thus blind they brought to the monks: and he there abode the while that he lived." "4 In the following year, 1037, as Hardicanute continued to live in Denmark, Harold was chosen king of all England. He hastened to Winchester and seized upon the treasures which had been left to his step-mother by his father. Emma was banished, and took refuge with Baldwin of Flanders. Death of With the death of Alfred, the disappearance of the queen-mother, and the absence of her sons Edward and Hardicanute, Harold looked forward to quietness and Harold, ease; but he died in three years' time.5 No mention is made by this chronicler of the date of Alfred's death; but Florence of Worcester states that he died shortly after he was placed in the custody of the monks of Ely. Saxon Chronicle. 1040. |