King Harold II was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, reigning for a brief period in 1066. He became king after the death of King Edward the Confessor and faced immediate challenges to his rule, including claims from William the Conqueror and Harald Hardrada of Norway. Harold's reign was marked by the famous Battle of Hastings, where he fought against William's Norman forces. Despite his initial successes, Harold was defeated and killed in the battle, leading to the end of Anglo-Saxon rule and the beginning of Norman control in England.