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Gyrth GodwinsonAnglo-Saxon nobleman, Earl of East Anglia (from 1055)
Date of Birth: 01.01.1032
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Gytha, the Anglo-Saxon Nobleman
Gytha was an Anglo-Saxon aristocrat who served as the Earl of East Anglia from 1055. He was a prominent member of the House of Godwin and the younger brother of King Harold II. As such, he played a significant role in the defense of England against the Norman conquerors.
Family and Early Life
Gytha was the fourth son of Godwin, the powerful Earl of Wessex. In 1051, when King Edward the Confessor ordered Godwin's exile, Gytha accompanied his father and elder brother, Sweyn, to Flanders. The following year, Godwin rallied a small fleet and, together with his sons, attacked the southern coast of England. The king was forced to capitulate, restoring Godwin's lands and court position.
Rise to Power
After Godwin's death in 1053, Gytha's elder brother, Harold, inherited the title of Earl of Wessex. Two years later, Gytha was granted Harold's former earldom, which included East Anglia, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire. Together with the regions controlled by his other brothers, the House of Godwin held sway over the majority of England, with the exception of western Middle England (Mercia). Gytha's influence grew further when his brother Harold ascended to the English throne in early 1066.
Battle of Hastings and Death
According to William of Malmesbury, Gytha opposed King Harold's personal involvement in the war against William, Duke of Normandy, in mid-1066. Harold, having previously sworn fealty to William and promised to support his claim to the English crown, risked breaking his oath. Gytha offered to lead the Anglo-Saxon army himself, but Harold disregarded his suggestion. In the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, Gytha fought valiantly alongside his brothers, Harold and Leofwine. All three brothers were killed in action.
