Skip to main content
Harold II

Harold II

1 7.5
The last Anglo-Saxon king of England who died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
  • proper noun
: Harold II
  • Historians often debate whether Harold II could have won the Battle of Hastings.

Examples

  • The death of Harold II marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England.

  • Harold II was crowned King of England in January 1066.

  • Historians often debate whether Harold II could have won the Battle of Hastings.

  • King Harold II ruled England for a brief period.

  • Did Harold II face any challenges during his reign?

  • Harold II was crowned King of England in January 1066.

  • The death of Harold II marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England.

Synonyms

Harold Godwinson
vsHarold II
1 9.3

King of England in 1066 who died at the Battle of Hastings

is the regnal name focusing on rule and succession rather than family name
King Harold II
vsHarold II
1 8.0

The last Anglo-Saxon king of England who died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066

is the name without the title shorter and more standard

Surface Forms

Harold II main

Morphology

Harold + II

This is a proper name: knowing 'Harold' and the Roman numeral 'II' lets a learner infer 'Harold the second' but does not yield the specific historical identity or events (last Anglo‑Saxon king killed at Hastings). The referential, encyclopedic meaning cannot be derived from the constituent words alone, so it is not compositionally transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Harold II was the second king named Harold and is known as the 'last Anglo-Saxon king' of England. One famous picture of the 1066 Battle of Hastings shows him hit by an arrow in the eye, a strong image that helps people remember his death. So his name now makes people think of the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England.