Chapter XI

THE ELECTION OF HAROLD.
January 5th–April 6th, 1066.

A. D. PAGE

1065–1066 Preeminent importance of the year 1066 3–5

§ 1. _Sickness and Death of Eadward. December 28, 1065–January
5, 1066._

National anxiety as to the succession; state of the
royal line 5–7

Position of Eadgar, Harold, William, and Tostig 7

Importance of Eadward’s dying recommendation 8

December 28–January 5 Progress of Eadward’s illness 9

He recovers his speech; his vision and prophecy 9–13

Question of the succession; Eadward names Harold as
his successor 14

His last directions and wishes 14–16

January 5 His death; English spirit of his last days 16–19

§ 2. _The Election and Coronation of Harold. January 5–6, 1066._

January 5 Vacancy of the throne; the Witan meet and elect
Harold 19–21

Position of Harold; he accepts the Crown 22–26

January 6 Double rites of the Epiphany; necessity for a speedy
burial and coronation 27

Burial of Eadward; position of Stigand; general
sorrow at Eadward’s death 28–30

His popular canonization 31–32

1102 His posthumous history; first examination of his
body by Gilbert and Gundulf 32–33

1140 Attempt of Prior Osbert to procure his canonization 33–34

1161 Eadward canonized by Alexander the Third 34

October First Translation of his body 34–35
13, 1163

October Second Translation of his body; rebuilding of
13, 1269 Westminster by Henry the Third; Henry’s likeness
to Eadward; presence of Edward the First 35–39

1074 The royal tombs around Eadward’s shrine; burial of
Eadgyth 39

1118 Burial of Eadgyth–Matilda 39

1557 The body removed by Henry the Eighth and restored
by Philip and Mary 40–41

January Coronation of Harold; Ealdred officiates 41–43
6, 1066

Order of the ceremony; the election in the church 43–44

The Unction and Crowning 45–48

Question of the Marriage and Crowning of Ealdgyth 48

§ 3. _The First Days of Harold’s Reign. January 6–April 16, 1066._

No Earl of the West-Saxons appointed; Harold keeps
the South in his own hands and entrusts the North
to Eadwine and Morkere 49–51

Character of Harold’s government; Norman and English
accounts; no general expulsion of Normans 51–54

Harold’s military preparations and coinage 54

His relations to the Church, to Gisa, Wulfstan, and
other Prelates 55–56

Formal concurrence of Northumberland in the election;
Northumberland never fairly represented in the
Witenagemót 57–58

Refusal of the Northumbrians to acknowledge Harold;
probable agency of Eadwine and Morkere 58–60

Harold, accompanied by Wulfstan, goes to York and
wins over the Northumbrians 60–65

April Harold’s Easter Feast and Gemót at Westminster 65
16–23, 1066

Effect of Harold’s reign on London 65–66

Eadgyth at Winchester 67

Ecclesiastical appointments in the Gemót; Ealdred
of Abingdon and Thurstan of Ely; importance of
Thurstan’s appointment 68–70

January The Crown challenged by William 70–71
15?

April The Comet; its effects on men’s minds 71–74
24–30

Summary 74