Harold Godwinson - 1066: The Insider

Harold (1020-1066) was the son of Earl Godwin, the most powerful man in England after the king. So, naturally, Harold thought he might make a mighty fine king himself one day.

(This is part one of four about the Norman Conquest of England in 1066)

The Godwins were a powerful noble Anglo-Saxon family, who also had married into Danish nobility when the Danes were ruling England. They were wealthy and highly connected. Their blood was as blue as blood got in the early 1000s.

Harold’s father, Earl Godwin, was the richest man in England. Earl Godwin put Harold in positions of power in southern England, put his other son in charge in the north, and then married his daughter to the king of England, Edward the Confessor. The family was riding high.

With his father’s support, Harold Godwinson climbed the ladder. In 1045 he was made Earl of East Anglia. When his father died, Harold became Earl of Wessex in 1053. The king made him give up the lesser earldom so he would get too powerful, but Harold didn’t mind.

This promotion meant more wealth and power, and he’d show the king that he was a man he could depend on for strength. In 1062, Harold led a successful military campaign in Wales, chasing the Welsh king out of his palace and almost capturing him.

Although King Edward the Confessor was married to Harold’s sister, their marriage was childless, so there was no clear heir to the throne. Harold probably would have been happy if he had a young, easy-to-control nephew on the throne, but no clear succession was bad for everyone, especially the well-positioned Godwin family.

King Edward the Confessor really dilly dallied when choosing an heir. He had grown up in Normandy, France, and there were rumors he would pick someone there. There were great-nephews of a previous English king living on the continent that could also make a claim to the throne. The Danes wanted to win the throne back. This would not do for the Godwins.

King Edward had spent the last few decades building Westminster Abbey. He started getting sick and knew he was close to the end, so he put all his effort into completing the construction in 1065, and not so much effort into choosing an heir. On his deathbed in January 1066, King Edward entrusted Harold Godwinson with the kingdom. At least, that’s what Harold claimed the king had whispered in his ear.

Usually, Anglo-Saxon kings would get all the mightiest lords together to pick the next king, making sure everyone agreed and civil war would be avoided. You’ve been to a “consensus building” meeting to “gain alignment” before, so you know the drill.

But not Harold Godwinson. Harold got himself crowned king the very next day after Edward’s funeral. Harold Godwinson was the first English king to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, and that would be a trend all the way to the latest coronation in 2023.

Harold had done it. He had reached the peak. He had climbed to the top rungs of the ladder. No longer just the richest, most powerful lord in England, he had taken the throne too. He had spent his entire life in one organization, the Kingdom of England, and now he was its ruler.

But could King Harold Godwinson keep the crown on his head? There were others from outside the organization who also coveted the top spot…

Harold Godwinson was an insider. He had done all the things. Fought battles, achieved victory. Born to nobles, married well for allegiances. Earl of here, then moved up to Earl of there. Every step was onward and upward. Finally, he was crowned king. Boom, bang, boom.

This wasn’t exactly a new idea. Back in the Roman Republic, aspiring politicians went through the “cursus honorum” or “path of offices” to work their way to the top: first military service, then financial experience, then public works, then justice, then finally, consul, the boss. Julius Caesar did it, and many people still see their career in this series of steps.

These days the path is wider with many more options for jobs and who can hold them, but the outlines from history are still there today: first attend famous college, then join new-hire program at a prominent investment bank or consultancy, then go to a fancy business school, then get recruited into a program at a different prestigious investment bank or consultancy or Big Tech company. It’s a prestigious ladder to climb.

That’s a lotta stamps on the ol’ resume. It’s impressive. Parents are proud. Loans get paid back. Credit scores are high. And there’s nothing wrong with the modern cursus honorum.

You might know someone who followed that path. Or a similar one, maybe even with law school or a political internship or the Peace Corps in there, if they’re civic-minded. Maybe you followed that path. Good for you.

Is this path the right one for you? For sure your parents will be proud. But is it the life for you? Do you need all those stamps? If you want to work for the most selective private equity firms, then, yes, yes you do.

But for most career paths, maybe just one or two prestigious companies or schools are all you need to open the doors for what you want out of your career. Adding one more stamp isn’t likely to get you much farther than with the five you already have.

Whatever path you take, make it your own path. If you like what you’re doing and who you’re with, then why stop? But if this path (and its pressure) is too much, then don’t be afraid to step off the path and blaze your own trail.