When Edward the confessor died childless on the 5th of January 1066. a succession crisis was inevitable. During this period there was multiple ways in which monarchical succession could be achieved, these include: Hereditary factors, choice of the incumbent monarch, and selection by the witan and the right of conquest.. Harold had several different claims that explain the reasons he became king in 1066. These include, political, economical and social reasons, which can be categorised into long term and short term factors.
Despite Harold not being blood related to his predecessor Edward, Godwin was Edwards's brother in law. Edwards marriage to Harold's sister, Edith, in around 1045 was most likely a political marriage. Edward may have seen the marriage to be necessary to maintain Godwin's support as he was the most powerful of the English earls and also because of his Danish links (Godwin's wife was kinship of Sweyn of Denmark),

Another long term reason Harold became king in 1066 is due to the fact Harold was a member of the most wealthiest, powerful and richest family in England- The Godwinson family. Godwin's sons, Swein and Harold had been given earldoms in Herefordshire and East Anglia, Godwin's nephew (Sweyn of Denmark's brother), Beorn, also became earl in the East Midlands. Eventually, the Godwin family subordinately controlled Southern England???? The power and influence of the Godwinsons was evident in 1046 when Godwin's eldest son, Sweyn, abducted the abbess of Leominster: Eadgifu and later killed his own cousin, Beorn. Edward pardoned him for both sins, the power and influence of the Godwin family but also the weakness of Edwards's authority.

. Harold's status and reputation continued to increase after his victory in Wales against Gruffudd ap llywelyn of Wales in 1063. Harold later married his widow, Ealdgyth- sister of Earls Morcar and Leofric. The fact Harold married the sister of two powerful earls perhaps suggests that Harold had the intention of succeeding Edward, despite the throne being promised to William (1051)
Harold also claimed to the throne with the claim he had been chosen by Edward at his deathbed nomination. Edwards verba novissima could be argued to override the previous promises and arrangements that had been made i.e. promising William the throne. Harold could perhaps use this to justify his perjury. The deathbed nomination is seen to have been the 'words of God' as it is a time when a person is crossing between the two realms. Harold thereby was able to claim to the English throne through choice of the incumbent monarch.

By the time of Edwards's death, Harold was by far the richest, wealthiest and most powerful. English Earl. He had been loyal to Edward, as shown during the 1065 Northumbrian rebellion against Tostig, Harold's brother, whereby Harold supported the people's choice to choose Morcar to be the new earl of Northumbria over Tostig. Not only was Harold popular by the people, but he was also supported and elected by the Witan, the English council.

Harold had been involved in running England for many years. He had acted as subregulas for Edward and therefore was probably the most suitable candidate for the succession. He had been brought up in England and had a good knowledge and understanding of the way the English system worked. This is unlike William of Normandy who had spent all his life in France, and Edgar, who had lived in Hungary all his life, Harold Hardraada also followed a different tax system over in Norway. It is for these reasons the Witan supported Harold in his rise to the throne.