The first person who claimed he should be King was Harold Godswin. He was second-in-command. He was also the brother in law of King Edward. Harold stated that when King Edward was dying he said to him: "Into's Harold's hands I commit my kingdom." The royal advisors council then voted Harold as the King of England.
Across the seas, William, the Duke of Normandy, had heard the news of Harold replacing King Edward and was furious. As a distant cousin of King Edward, William claimed