7 Shortest Reigns in English History

King Harold II (9 months and 8 days)

On British soil, only two English monarchs have died in battle. Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field, and Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon King, was killed at the Battle of Hastings.

According to popular belief, Harold was killed when an arrow struck his eye. An image on the Bayeux Tapestry depicting a figure gripping an arrow near a Latin caption stating ‘Harold the King is killed’ lends credence to this perception. Some historians, however, have pointed out that it is unclear which figure on the tapestry the caption refers to; it could equally refer to a nearby image of a knight being trampled under a horse.

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