by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025
Edith discovering King Harold’s corpse on the battlefield of Hastings by Horace Vernet, 1828; Credit – Wikipedia
Born circa 1025, Edith the Fair, also known as Edith Swansneck, was a high-ranking noblewoman, as she owned numerous lands in East Anglia. Some historians think she was the daughter of the Danish warlord, Thorkell the Tall, and his wife, a daughter of Æthelred II the Unready, King of the English.
Edith’s husband, Harold II Godwinson, King of England; Credit – Wikipedia
In the late 1040s, Edith and Harold Godwinson were married according to the Danish more, Latin for “in the Danish manner”, similar to handfasting, a type of marriage widespread in Viking culture. The Catholic Church did not recognize the Danish more, and therefore did not consider Edith Harold’s legitimate wife. However, marriage by the Danish more was widespread and accepted in Anglo-Saxon England, and there is no indication that the children born to Edith and Harold were treated as illegitimate by the culture at the time.
Edith the Fair and Harold had six children:
- Godwin of Wessex (born circa 1049), exiled after his father’s death in 1066, disappears from history in the early 1070s
- Edmund of Wessex (born circa 1049), exiled after his father’s death in 1066, disappears from history in the early 1070s
- Magnus of Wessex (born circa 1051), exiled after his father died in 1066
- Gytha of Wessex (died 1107) (circa 1053 – died 1098 or 1107), married Vladimir II Monomakh, Grand Prince of Kievan Rus, had at least five children
- Gunhild of Wessex (circa 1055 – 1097), abandoned her life as a nun at Wilton Abbey and lived with Alan the Red, intending to marry him, after his death, she lived with his brother Alan the Black
- Ulf of Wessex (circa 1067 – circa 1087), imprisoned in Normandy after his father died in 1066, on his deathbed in 1087, King William I of England was persuaded to release all of his political prisoners, including Ulf
Edith and Harold’s marriage lasted until circa 1065, when Harold made a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church. Harold was the most powerful nobleman in England and was regarded as the principal successor of Edward the Confessor, King of England, who had no children or other heirs. However, to gain the support of the Catholic Church, Harold decided to enter into a legitimate marriage that the Catholic Church would recognize. Although Edith the Fair was still living, Harold married Ealdgyth of Mercia, daughter of Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia, and the widow of a defeated enemy, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn of Gwynedd, King of Wales. Harold chose Ealdgyth of Mercia to secure the support of the Mercians and to weaken the links between the Mercians and the Welsh rulers.
In 1065, Edward the Confessor probably had a series of strokes. He died on January 5, 1066. According to the Vita Ædwardi Regis, before Edward died, he briefly regained consciousness and named Harold Godwinson his heir. The Witan met the next day and selected Harold Godwinson to succeed Edward as King Harold II. Probably, Harold was immediately crowned in Westminster Abbey. Ealdgyth became Harold’s wife and queen consort. The date of the marriage is unknown, but it must have taken place at some stage before the Conquest, whether before or after Harold’s coronation as king of England (January 1066)
When William II, Duke of Normandy, the future King William I of England, heard that Harold Godwinson had been crowned King of England, he began preparations for an invasion of England. The army of William II, Duke of Normandy, met the army of King Harold of England about six miles northwest of Hastings, England, on October 14, 1066, in what would be known as the Battle of Hastings. Harold appears to have tried to surprise William, but Norman scouts found his army and reported its arrival to William, who marched from Hastings to the battlefield to confront Harold. Early efforts of the Normans to break the English battle lines had little effect. In response, the Normans adopted the tactic of pretending to flee in panic and then turning on their pursuers. Harold’s death, probably near the end of the battle, led to the retreat and defeat of most of his army.
Harold rex interfectus est: “King Harold is killed”. Scene from the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings and the death of Harold; Credit – Wikipedia
According to folklore, Edith the Fair was called to identify Harold’s mutilated body on the battlefield, which she did by some private mark known only to her. Apparently, Edith died circa 1086, aged about 61, but where she died and her burial site are unknown.
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Works Cited
- Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Harold II Godwinson, King of England [Review of Harold II Godwinson, King of England]. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/harold-ii-godwinson-king-of-england/
- Nobildonna Inglese. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ealdgyth_(moglie_di_Aroldo_II). (2013, January 19).
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2025). Edith the Fair. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
- https://www.geni.com/people/Edith-the-Fair-Edith-Swan-neck/6000000001391856400
