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Harold Godwinsson wrote:

Eala and Heal

I'm Harold Godwinsson!

You know me, i'm the man you keep calling The Usurper!

Frankly, well, i don't happen to enjoy being called a Usurper, especially when i was offered the crown of England or should i say Engloland, or perhaps Englalond since there has been so many ways of spelling or saying it since before William the "Bastard", since that is what he was, and who was the true Usurper of a Land and Kingdom that wasn't his in the first place, was it!

But any way i digress a little, i was offered the Crown of my Country, Homeland by that Country's, Homeland's Witan or early form of English Parliament, so therefore, in what way, by any imagination am i a Usurper?

The Witan, An Early form of English Parliament, so you see, we thought of it long before that French fellow, i forget his name?

But any way, would you please not accuse me of being a Usurper in my own Homeland, you see it does rather erk me a bit, it makes me want to break a few Norman heads, and such things so do please try not to accuse me of being something i wasn't.

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mousteriana wrote:

Harold Godwinsson:

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Harold Godwinsson wrote:

Eala and Heal

I'm Harold Godwinsson!

You know me, i'm the man you keep calling The Usurper!

Frankly, well, i don't happen to enjoy being called a Usurper, especially when i was offered the crown of England or should i say Engloland, or perhaps Englalond since there has been so many ways of spelling or saying it since before William the "Bastard", since that is what he was, and who was the true Usurper of a Land and Kingdom that wasn't his in the first place, was it!

But any way i digress a little, i was offered the Crown of my Country, Homeland by that Country's, Homeland's Witan or early form of English Parliament, so therefore, in what way, by any imagination am i a Usurper?

The Witan, An Early form of English Parliament, so you see, we thought of it long before that French fellow, i forget his name?

But any way, would you please not accuse me of being a Usurper in my own Homeland, you see it does rather erk me a bit, it makes me want to break a few Norman heads, and such things so do please try not to accuse me of being something i wasn't.

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Welcome to the group! I am glad you have come here, since, based on my reading, I, too, object to the "usurper" nonsense that has been perpetuated.

As many of you know, but some here refuse to accept, in English law and custim the Witan made the final decision about the succession, if there were several possible candidates. Otherwise, they would simply affirm the succession, but this, too, was necessary. The idea that Harold Godwinson waas somehow a "usurper" is based on the rather shaky(IMO) notion that Edward "the Confessor" promised the throne to William. . . but then, he seems to have gone around promising the throne to anyone who would listen to him, including King Magnus of Norway, at one time. Nothing came of that. By 1066, Harold, who hadnot, despite later Norman claims, been particularly active in seeking the throne, was the only credible candidate. Both Edward and the various people who constituted the Witan at the time, knew this. And, for that matter, it is a pretty sure bet that William knew this(otherwise, why all this stuff about the "oath"?). As far as William was concerned, he had to back up his challenge with something that sounded halfway credible, hence all the claims about Harold being a "usurper", despite the fact he was chosen by what were, at the time, perfectly legal and customary means.
Anne G

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mousteriana wrote:

Harold:

[quoteWell posted Friend, i'm not sure but i have read that in Germanic ways, a man was chosen for his abilities, not wether he was heir or successer, according to Tacitus that is, and our Anglo-Saxon Ancestors continued with that form of early Democratic system right until well, the "Usurper" William Butted in.

Therefore as you so rightly say, being chosen by the Witan was just a continuation of that earler Germanic form of Kingship or Leader picking.

Of course i could be wrong and i'm open to any constructive comments!

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Harold Godwinsson wrote:



Heal Anne

Well i supose it wasn't what you could call Democratic as we believe it should be today, but it was certainly far more Democratic than the latter Norman feudal system i believe!

Well chosing me was the best oppsion since the Atheling was to young and Edward himself had no other choice but to pick me since i was the right man for the thrown, or should i say he, Harold was the best man for the thrown!

Heal Harold II, Last Native King of the English!

Waes Heal Anne

Harold

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WilliamtheRed Forum1 wrote:

Anne G,
You have forgotten about Egbert and the 820's. Angleland was never the same again.It is in addition necessary to take on board the fact that the Usurper was raised as a Cnutian.If you add the events of the 820's and 1016-42 you get the correct historical 'arithmetic'. You seem to want to turn it into a matter of "how many beans make five?".It isn't.

Bill H,Chairperson (personal capacity)

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