Harold Harefoot

Harold I (died 17 March 1040), commonly known as Harold Harefoot, was King of England from 1037 to 1040. His nickname is first recorded in the twelfth century in the history of Ely Abbey as "Harefoh" or "Harefah". Some late medieval chroniclers interpreted it as meaning that he was "fleet of foot". The son of Cnut the Great and Ælfgifu of Northampton, Harold was chosen as regent of England after his father's death in 1035, ruling in place of his half-brother Harthacnut, who remained in Denmark. Æthelnoth, Archbishop of Canterbury, reportedly refused to crown him, but in 1037 Harold was proclaimed king with the support of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and other leading nobles. That same year, Harold's two stepbrothers Edward and Ælfred returned to England. Ælfred was captured by Earl Godwin and handed over to men loyal to Harold. He was blinded while being taken to Ely and died soon afterwards. Harold died in 1040, after ruling as regent or king for nearly five years. His half-brother Harthacnut returned soon afterwards and assumed power peacefully. Harold was originally buried in Westminster, but Harthacnut had his body exhumed and thrown into a fen beside the River Thames. It was reportedly recovered by a fisherman and reburied in a Danish cemetery in London.