William I
Harold reneges on promise to renounce English throne
Sometime during 1064 Harold was sailing off the coast of England when his ship was driven aground on the French coast. He ended up in the custody of the Count of Ponthieu, who held Harold for ransom. Hearing of this, Duke William of Normandy demanded that Harold should be delivered into his hands and the count reluctantly agreed. Harold was welcomed into the Norman Count and he and William are said to have developed a friendship. However, William was sharp and cunning and knew that Harold was well liked in England.
Therefore, William took the opportunity to settle once and for all his right to the throne of England. Harold was persuaded to swear an oath to renounce all rights to the English throne. In return for this undertaking, when Edward the Confessor died, he would be the most powerful earl in the whole of England and second in the land only to William. It is probable that this oath-taking did take place, otherwise Harold would have been kept in captivity. In effect, he had no option but to take the oath; had he not done so he would not have been allowed to return to England.
In 1066 Duke William was infuriated when news reached Normandy of Harold being declared as the next king of England. It had taken years to subdue unruly elements in Normandy and secure its borders and now William was faced with what he regarded as the usurpation of the throne of England by Harold.
He immediately set about making plans for an invasion. Word went out that William was looking for men, not only in Normandy but in other areas, such as Brittany and Flanders. His own underlings would supply men and other soldiers of fortune, many of high status with bands of followers, would answer his call to arms. Whether this was due to disgust at Harold breaking his vow to William or that they saw a great opportunity for a massive land-grab is uncertain. However, it would take time to bring together ships and build others to carry the arms, men and horses of an invading force.