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{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
| alias   = King Harold, [[Hereward the Wake]]
|image        = Harold Bayeux Tapestry.jpg
|species=Human
|alias         = Hereward the Wake, King Harold
|parent=Gytha
|species       = Human
|spouse=Edith Swan-Neck
|paren        = Gytha
|origin= [[Earth]]
|spouse       = Edith Swan-Neck
|first mention= The Time Meddler (TV story)
|origin       = [[Earth]]
|first = The Real Hereward (short story)
|first mention = The Time Meddler (TV story)
|appearances = {{il|[[COMIC]]: ''[[The Bits We've Missed So Far (comic story)|The Bits We've Missed So Far]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Constant Warrior (short story)|The Constant Warrior]]''}}
|first         = The Real Hereward (short story)
}}{{character stub}}
|appearances   = {{il|[[COMIC]]: ''[[The Bits We've Missed So Far (comic story)|The Bits We've Missed So Far]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Constant Warrior (short story)|The Constant Warrior]]''|[[COMIC]]: [[Untitled (DWM 598 comic story)|Untitled]]}}
'''Harold Godwinson''' was the [[King]] of [[England]] for most of [[1066]]. Although he defeated a [[Viking]] invasion, he was himself later defeated in the [[Battle of Hastings]] by [[William the Conqueror]]. [[The Monk]] planned to change history by using advanced technology to aid King Harold, thus ensuring that his army would be better able to face William's army. The Monk believed that Harold would have been a good king and that, under his rule, there wouldn't be "all those wars" in [[Europe]] with the claims over [[France]] that "went on for years and years", resulting in people being able to better themselves in the peace. Ultimately, the Monk's plan was thwarted when a group of [[Saxon]]s ran the Monk out of his [[monastery]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Meddler (TV story)|The Time Meddler]]'')
}}[[King]] '''Harold Godwinson''' (c. [[1020]]-[[1066]])  or '''Harold II''' ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Universal Databank (reference book)}}) was a [[Saxon]] ruler of [[England]]. After losing the [[Battle of Hastings]], he became known as '''Hereward the Wake'''.


The [[Eighth Doctor]] and [[Mary Shelley]] met King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Mary's Story (audio story)|Mary's Story]]'')  
== Biography ==
He succeeded his [[brother]]-in-law [[Edward the Confessor]] in [[January]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A History of Humankind (novel)|A History of Humankind]]'') Harold was married to Lady [[Edith Swan-Neck]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Real Hereward (short story)|The Real Hereward]]'')


The [[Sixth Doctor]] and [[Peri Brown]] met him after he was said to have died at that battle, when he was living under the name of [[Hereward the Wake]]. The Doctor referred to him as "the foremost of the Saxon outlaws who led a guerrilla campaign against the [[Norman]]s after the Battle of Hastings." Harold claimed that Countess [[Gytha]] and Lady [[Edith Swan-Neck]] had intentionally falsely identified his body on the battlefield, allowing him to die as King Harold, but remain alive as "Hereward the Wake". At one point in his guerrilla campaign, he considered an alliance with the [[Denmark|Danes]], so that he could march on [[London]]. However, the Doctor advised against it, as he felt the Danes would not have allowed a Saxon on the throne of [[England]]. Indeed, the Doctor was able to convince Harold to abandon his London plans and his ambitions towards recapturing the throne. Instead, he and his men took the Doctor's counsel that it would be better to remain a thorn in the side of the Normans. Thereby, they would give hope to the Saxon people and prevent them from ever fully accepting Norman rule. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Real Hereward (short story)|The Real Hereward]]'')
King Harold successfully opposed the [[Viking]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Meddler (TV story)|The Time Meddler]]'') At the Battle of Stamford Bridge on [[25 September]] [[1066]], Harold defeated the army of [[Harald Hardrada]] in a surprise attack. ([[TV]]: ''[[Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart (TV story)|Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart]]'') The [[First Monk]] intended to change history by destroying the Vikings with an [[atomic cannon]], allowing Harold to focus on the [[Norman]] invasion. However, his plans were thwarted when a group of Saxons ran the Monk out of his [[monastery]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Meddler (TV story)|The Time Meddler]]'')


[[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|Mr Smalley]] had an [[arrow]] with a bloodstain on it in [[Smalley & Co Antiques|his shop]]. According to Smalley, some said that the arrow was pulled from the [[eye]] of King Harold himself after the Battle of Hastings. [[Rani Chandra]] replied that she had read online that some said that he wasn't shot in the eye at all. Mr Smalley added that the tapestry of time was a fragile thing and applying the slightest pressure could cause the threads of history to unravel. ([[TV]]: ''[[Lost in Time (TV story)|Lost in Time]]'')
Shortly after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, [[William the Conqueror]] invaded [[Sussex]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart (TV story)|Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart]]'') Harold's forces faced him at the [[Battle of Hastings]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Meddler (TV story)|The Time Meddler]]'') The [[Eighth Doctor]] and [[Mary Shelley]] met King Harold at the battle, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Mary's Story (audio story)|Mary's Story]]'') and [[Rory Williams]] served as one of his generals. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Constant Warrior (short story)|The Constant Warrior]]'')
 
Ultimately, Harold was defeated. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Meddler (TV story)|The Time Meddler]]'') By one account, an [[arrow]] ricocheted off [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the Doctor's materialising TARDIS]] and lodged in Harold's eye; ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Bits We've Missed So Far (comic story)|The Bits We've Missed So Far]]'') however, by [[2010]] [[Rani Chandra]] read online that he wasn't actually shot in the eye. ([[TV]]: ''[[Lost in Time (TV story)|Lost in Time]]'') Indeed, a second account showed that the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] and [[Donna Noble]] both accidentally saved his life from arrows during the battle before realising who he was and leaving in a hurry. Donna discovered that by [[2023]], scholars disagreed over Harold's cause of death. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|[[Untitled (DWM 598 comic story)]]}})
 
According to another account, Harold had actually faked his death with the assistance of his wife Lady [[Edith Swan-Neck|Edith]] and her mother Countess [[Gytha]], who had falsely identified his body on the battlefield.
[[File:Hereward the Wake.jpg|left|thumb|Harold speaks with the [[Sixth Doctor]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Real Hereward (short story)|The Real Hereward]]'')]]
Now calling himself "Hereward the Wake", Harold continued to oppose the Normans with a [[guerilla]] campaign. The [[Sixth Doctor]] and [[Peri Brown]] met him in the [[Fenlands]] and dissuaded him from allying with the [[Denmark|Danes]] to march on [[London]], as the Doctor felt the Danes would not allow a Saxon on the throne of England. Instead, the Doctor persuaded him and his men to remain a thorn in the side of the Normans, giving hope to the Saxon people and prevent them from ever fully accepting Norman rule. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Real Hereward (short story)|The Real Hereward]]'')
 
== Later references ==
The [[First Monk]] believed that, had Harold not been defeated in the Battle of Hastings, he would have been a good king and that, under his rule, there wouldn't be "all those wars" in [[Europe]] with the claims over [[France]] that "went on for years and years", resulting in people being able to better themselves in the peace. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Meddler (TV story)|The Time Meddler]]'')
 
According to the [[Sixth Doctor]], Hereward the Wake was remembered as "the foremost of the Saxon outlaws who led a guerrilla campaign against the [[Norman]]s after the Battle of Hastings." ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Real Hereward (short story)|The Real Hereward]]'') He claimed to have learnt how to fight with a [[broadsword]] from Hereward and [[Richard the Lionheart]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Leviathan (audio story)|Leviathan]]'')
 
In [[2010]], [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|Mr Smalley]] claimed that a bloodstained [[arrow]] in [[Smalley & Co Antiques|his shop]] was said by some to be the arrow pulled King Harold's [[eye]] after the Battle of Hastings. [[Rani Chandra]] replied that she'd read online that he wasn't shot in the eye at all. Mr Smalley added that the [[Web of Time|tapestry of time]] was a fragile thing and applying the slightest pressure could cause the threads of [[history]] to unravel. ([[TV]]: ''[[Lost in Time (TV story)|Lost in Time]]'')
 
The [[Thirteenth Doctor]] described King Harold as a "big fella" who was handy with a [[sword]] and liked a good [[knock-knock joke]]. She remembered asking him, "What do you call a [[knight]] who always cheats on a test? [[Lancelot|Sir Glancelot]]." ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Mistress of Chaos (comic story)|Mistress of Chaos]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
* {{w|Hereward the Wake}} was played by [[Alfred Lynch]] in the BBC series ''Hereward the Wake'' and [[Brian Blessed]] in ''Blood Royal: William the Conquerer''.
* In reality, there is no evidence that King Harold and Hereward the Wake were the same person.
 
* {{w|Hereward the Wake}} was played by [[Alfred Lynch]] in the BBC series ''Hereward the Wake'' and [[Brian Blessed]] in ''Blood Royal: William the Conqueror''.
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Latest revision as of 01:51, 20 September 2024

Harold Godwinson

King Harold Godwinson (c. 1020-1066) or Harold II (PROSE: The Universal Databank [+]Loading...["The Universal Databank (reference book)"]) was a Saxon ruler of England. After losing the Battle of Hastings, he became known as Hereward the Wake.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

He succeeded his brother-in-law Edward the Confessor in January. (PROSE: A History of Humankind) Harold was married to Lady Edith Swan-Neck. (PROSE: The Real Hereward)

King Harold successfully opposed the Vikings. (TV: The Time Meddler) At the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25 September 1066, Harold defeated the army of Harald Hardrada in a surprise attack. (TV: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart) The First Monk intended to change history by destroying the Vikings with an atomic cannon, allowing Harold to focus on the Norman invasion. However, his plans were thwarted when a group of Saxons ran the Monk out of his monastery. (TV: The Time Meddler)

Shortly after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, William the Conqueror invaded Sussex. (TV: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart) Harold's forces faced him at the Battle of Hastings. (TV: The Time Meddler) The Eighth Doctor and Mary Shelley met King Harold at the battle, (AUDIO: Mary's Story) and Rory Williams served as one of his generals. (PROSE: The Constant Warrior)

Ultimately, Harold was defeated. (TV: The Time Meddler) By one account, an arrow ricocheted off the Doctor's materialising TARDIS and lodged in Harold's eye; (COMIC: The Bits We've Missed So Far) however, by 2010 Rani Chandra read online that he wasn't actually shot in the eye. (TV: Lost in Time) Indeed, a second account showed that the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna Noble both accidentally saved his life from arrows during the battle before realising who he was and leaving in a hurry. Donna discovered that by 2023, scholars disagreed over Harold's cause of death. (COMIC: Untitled [+]Loading...["[[Untitled (DWM 598 comic story)]]"])

According to another account, Harold had actually faked his death with the assistance of his wife Lady Edith and her mother Countess Gytha, who had falsely identified his body on the battlefield.

Harold speaks with the Sixth Doctor. (PROSE: The Real Hereward)

Now calling himself "Hereward the Wake", Harold continued to oppose the Normans with a guerilla campaign. The Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown met him in the Fenlands and dissuaded him from allying with the Danes to march on London, as the Doctor felt the Danes would not allow a Saxon on the throne of England. Instead, the Doctor persuaded him and his men to remain a thorn in the side of the Normans, giving hope to the Saxon people and prevent them from ever fully accepting Norman rule. (PROSE: The Real Hereward)

Later references[[edit] | [edit source]]

The First Monk believed that, had Harold not been defeated in the Battle of Hastings, he would have been a good king and that, under his rule, there wouldn't be "all those wars" in Europe with the claims over France that "went on for years and years", resulting in people being able to better themselves in the peace. (TV: The Time Meddler)

According to the Sixth Doctor, Hereward the Wake was remembered as "the foremost of the Saxon outlaws who led a guerrilla campaign against the Normans after the Battle of Hastings." (PROSE: The Real Hereward) He claimed to have learnt how to fight with a broadsword from Hereward and Richard the Lionheart. (AUDIO: Leviathan)

In 2010, Mr Smalley claimed that a bloodstained arrow in his shop was said by some to be the arrow pulled King Harold's eye after the Battle of Hastings. Rani Chandra replied that she'd read online that he wasn't shot in the eye at all. Mr Smalley added that the tapestry of time was a fragile thing and applying the slightest pressure could cause the threads of history to unravel. (TV: Lost in Time)

The Thirteenth Doctor described King Harold as a "big fella" who was handy with a sword and liked a good knock-knock joke. She remembered asking him, "What do you call a knight who always cheats on a test? Sir Glancelot." (COMIC: Mistress of Chaos)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • In reality, there is no evidence that King Harold and Hereward the Wake were the same person.
  • Hereward the Wake was played by Alfred Lynch in the BBC series Hereward the Wake and Brian Blessed in Blood Royal: William the Conqueror.