Hakon Sweynson ( ang, Hacon Swegenson) was the only son of
Sweyn Godwinson
Sweyn Godwinson ( ang, Swegen Godƿinson) ( 1020 – 1052), also spelled Swein, was the eldest son of Earl Godwin of Wessex, and brother of Harold II of England.
Early life
In 1043 Sweyn was raised to an earldom which included Gloucestershi ...
, brother of
Harold II of England
Harold Godwinson ( – 14 October 1066), also called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon English king. Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings, fighting the Norman invaders led by William the Co ...
.
Biography
He was given as a hostage to
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor ; la, Eduardus Confessor , ; ( 1003 – 5 January 1066) was one of the last Anglo-Saxon English kings. Usually considered the last king of the House of Wessex, he ruled from 1042 to 1066.
Edward was the son of Æth ...
in 1051 as assurance of his grandfather
Godwin, Earl of Wessex's bad behaviour and support during the confrontation between the earl and the king which led to the exile of Godwin and his other sons.
Upon Godwin's return to England at the head of an army in 1052, following extensive preparations in Ireland and Flanders, Norman supporters of King Edward, and especially Archbishop
Robert of Jumièges
Robert of Jumièges (died between 1052 and 1055) was the first Norman archbishop of Canterbury.Barlow ''Edward the Confessor'' p. 50 He had previously served as prior of the Abbey of St Ouen at Rouen in Normandy, before becoming abbot of Jumià ...
, fled England. It is likely at this point that Hakon (and
Wulfnoth, a younger son of Godwin) were spirited away by the fleeing archbishop, and taken to Normandy, where they were handed over to
Duke William of Normandy.
According to
Eadmer's ''Historia novorum in Anglia'', the reason for Harold's excursion to Normandy in 1064 or 1065 was that he wished to free Wulfnoth and Hakon. To this end he took with him a vast amount of wealth, all of which was paid to
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Guy I of Ponthieu
Guy I of Ponthieu (also known in the Bayeux Tapestry as Wido) was born sometime in the mid- to late 1020s and died 13 October 1100. He succeeded his brother (or possibly father) Enguerrand as Count of Ponthieu.
Life
Guy was a son of Hugh II, C ...
.
Hakon returned to England with Harold, and nothing more is known of him after this point.
However, his uncle Wulfnoth remained in Normandy, took no part in the battle of Hastings, and outlived William the Conqueror.
[Walker, Ian W. Harold The Last Anglo-Saxon King. Stroud, History Press 2010 p222 ]
References
External links
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House of Godwin
Anglo-Saxon people
11th-century English people
{{England-bio-stub