- Waltham Abbey Theory:
One of the most popular theories is that King Harold was buried at Waltham Abbey in Essex, a site with a strong connection to Harold. Waltham Abbey was a place of great religious significance, and Harold himself had a personal connection with it, as he had been a benefactor and had helped in its reconstruction. This theory is supported by medieval chroniclers, including Orderic Vitalis, who claimed that Harold was buried in the church at Waltham Abbey after the battle.
- Hastings and the "King’s Grave":
Another theory suggests that Harold was buried at the battlefield itself. In the years following the Battle of Hastings, the site of the battle was marked by a memorial referred to as "Harold’s Tomb" or the "King’s Grave." However, no physical evidence of such a burial has been discovered at the battlefield site, and it remains uncertain whether Harold was indeed interred there.
- Bosham Burial Theory:
A third theory proposes that Harold was buried at the church of St. Mary in Bosham, West Sussex, a place with significant Anglo-Saxon ties. Some sources suggest that Harold’s body was taken there for burial by his supporters before it was later moved to another site, possibly Waltham Abbey. This theory, like the others, remains speculative due to the lack of conclusive evidence. shutdown123
The Disputed Burial Sites
The most widely accepted account is that King Harold II was buried at the battlefield of Hastings. According to some sources, after the battle, his body was retrieved by his mother or by the Anglo-Saxon nobility, who wanted to give him a proper Christian burial. However, there were several competing theories about where Harold was buried.