Why shouldnt harald hardrada be king?

Answer 1

Harold Hardrada was the king of Norway. His claim to the throne of England was very complex and rather dubious. Hardrada was the half-brother of King Olaf II of Norway who had been deposed by King Canute of Denmark and England in 1030 when Hardrada was just 15. When Canute died in 1035 his empire was divided between hs sons. England was ruled by Harold "Harefoot" and Denmark by Harthacanute. Norway, however, reverted back to its original dynasty in the guise of Magnus the Good, an illegitimate son of Olaf II. When Harold Harefoot died in 1035, Harthacanute ruled both Denmark and England.

After this King Magnus of Norway and King Harthacanute of Denmark and England made a deal which stipulated that whichever king should die first the Survivor should rule all three kingdoms (Denmark, Norway and England). Harthacanute died first, and in 1042 and Magnus moved to take over Denmark. However he was frustrated in England because the exiled Anglo-Saxon royal dynasty returned from exile (in Normandy) and Edward the Confessor became king.

When Magnus of Norway and Denmark died in 1046 he was succeeded on the Norwegian throne by Harold Hardrada, although Denmark now went its separate way. Nevertheless, the new Norwegian king maintained his predecessors claims to both England and Denmark.

When Edward the Confessor died in early 1066 he was succeeded on the English throne by Harold Godwinson, known as King Harold II of England. However his little brother, Tostig Godwinson, was a treacherous malcontent who had been the Earl of Northumbria but had been deposed after ruling his domain so badly the people had revolted against him. His brother refused to help him and without land or power he reckoned he would get a better deal by allying himself with Harold Hardrada of Norway (also known as Harold III of Norway) and helping him seize the throne of England.

At the Battle of Stamford Bridge - just outside York - on September 20th 1066, Tostig and Harold Hardrada defeated the men of Northumbria. King Harold II of England was then forced to march north away from the south coast (which he had been guarding in anticipation of a Norman invasion) and met Hardrada and Tostig in battle at Stamford Bridge on 25 September just five days later. Hardrada and Tostig were both slain. However, it was a "pyrrhic victory" because the much weakened English army, forced to return all the way back to Sussex was defeated by Duke William of Normandy not long afterwards on 14 October at The Battle of Hastings.

Answer 2

Most englishmen liked Harold Godwinson