KS_outline_period4_Harold

Welcome, Ms. White's Fourth Period Scholars!


We are representing the people of Wessex. We are here to say why Harold was the fault of losing the Battle of Hastings and England's FREEDOM! Harold has made many mistakes in the time of his Kingship and Earldom. - King Harold Let His brother, Tostig, take his mind off of the battle and the country of England. - King Harold Did Not Obey The Oaths That he had made to Duke William of Normandy. - King Harold was the cause of a poor harvest season by holding the fyrd away from their crops.

Harold put his people in danger by breaking the oath to Duke William. - Harold promised Duke William that he could take the Kingship after King Edward died. - This Angered William after Earl Harold took the Kingship after Edward, which made William want revenge and war with England. - Harold Was worried that if Duke William Asked Harald Hardrada to join his army which kept his mind off his own army. - Duke William did ask Harald Hardrada to join his army this caused King Harold to lose men in the battle of Stanford Brodge which caused England to lose the Battle Of Hastings. Here is the oth Harold had said in person. - "I, Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, solemnly swear to accept William, Duke Of Normandy, as my overlord. I will accept William as the lawful heir to the English throne should King Edward die childless. I pledge my betrothal to Duke Williams Daughter Agatha. I will use my power and wealth to ensure William's succession to the throne, and I will keep a garrison of Duke William's Knights at Dover Castle at my own expense. So help me God and all the Saints." - This is on Page 135

Harold 's mind was on his brother when he should have been thinking about his countries needs. {}He First Sent His Brother Away, which made his brother, Tostig, angry - It Made Tostig want revenge on his own brother - He didn't pay close enough attention to his own brother and what he was doing. - He only sent a spy to watch over his brother, which wasn't good enough. He, himself, was needed. - This is on Page 143 to 148 {}He Did Not Go And Talk To His Brother Which Made Him Angry - He Did Not tell him why he sent him away. - This way, he did not know why Harold had any right to take him out of his Earldom. - This was the reason Tostig was Very angry and want to go to war with Harold. This war was called the Battle of Stanford Bridge.

Earl Tostig declared war on Harold. Then When They Came Back, Harold Thought They Had A Year To Prepare For Duke William, But they came the day after they got back. This is an example of how unprepared Harold had been. - The Fyrd and the Housecarls only had 1 days worth of rest - This was not enough to go to war again with Duke William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada. His army could hold on any longer. - Also The Fyrd had to leave all of the crops they were growing, thus the woman had to do all of it - The families back at their homeland could not grow the crops ,so the country did not have enough food for the year - All of this was King Harold's fault because it shows that he didn't plan very well and he didn't have to go to war, but his decisions was the cause of what made them go to war. - This takes place on page 184

King Harold was the reason the Battle of Hastings took place beacuse all of his mistakes lead to effects. He could have watched Tostig, after he took him out of power, so that he could not take people against Harold. Harold could have also kept his oath to the Duke of Williams. If he only did these simple things instead of being lazy, then the battle of Hastings, might not have been. All these examples prove that King Harold was not a wise king or ruler. He has hurt his country and broken an oath. It proves he cannot be trusted with anything. Innocent people died who did not have to be in the battle. This made the people who fought in battle think about their family's which made them lose focus on what they did and led them to lose the battle. King Harold is definitely guilty. He was unprepared and was not resourceful. In all, he did not have the leadership qualities to protect and defend all of England. He had way too many mistakes which caused the country to lose and caused himself to die. We strongly think he is guilty. Thank you.