Wulfnoth Godwinson

Wulfnoth Godwinson (* 1035, † 1094 in Salisbury ) was the son of Earl Godwin of Wessex Wulfnothson and brother of the English King Harold Godwinson brief.

Life

Wulfnoth spent most of his life at the court of William the Bastard, later called " the Conqueror " in Rouen as a political hostage.

Wulfnoth and his nephew Hakon (the son of his brother Sven ) were passed in 1051 by Earl Godwin of Wessex in return for his return to England to King Edward the Confessor. Godwin had risen in 1051 to Edward and then was sent into exile. Wulfnoth and Hakon, shortly afterwards passed by Edward at the Norman court to ensure their safety and to avoid an exemption. Norman sources argue that Harold gave his brother and his nephew the Norman court to comply with the agreement between Edward and William, the Duke of Normandy was to succeed and Harold would recognize this.

In research, the scene is discussed violently. It should be noted that Norman as English sources each biased report, so each try to support their own rulers. It is therefore not proved why Wulfnoth and Hakon were taken hostage at the Norman court, just as the journey Harolds 1064 in Normandy. While some researchers accept, Harold wanted to negotiate the release Wulfnoths there, consider other travel as confirmation Harold's initial plan, and want to accept William as king.

Wulfnoth was released in 1087 by Wilhelm shortly before his death again. William II Rufus took Wulfnoth in the same year to England and imprisoned him again hostage. Wulfnoth died 1094 in Salisbury.

Swell

• Symeon of Durham: Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum.
• Eadmer: Eadmer 's History of Recent Events in England. Book I -IV, trans. by G. Bosanquet, London 1964.
• William of Poitiers: Gesta Guillelmi. The Gesta Guillelmi of William of Poitiers. Edit. and trans. of R.H.C. Davis and Marjorie Chibnall, Oxford 1998.