EXCLUSIVEDid the son of tragic King Harold flee to Poland? Historian says skeleton found in 1966 belongs to Magnus - and claims he became a Polish nobleman after William the Conqueror defeated his father in 1066

A mysterious grave discovered in a Polish castle nearly 60 years ago contained the remains of the lost son of Englands vanquished King Harold, a historian has claimed.

The grave, uncovered in 1966 in a castle in a small town south of Warsaw, has long been linked to a Count Magnus, who was thought to be a senior member of the Polish court in the 12th century.

But recent research suggests he may in fact be one and the same as Harold Godwinsons son Magnus, who disappeared from English chronicles shortly after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Medieval historian Dariusz Piwowarczyk is among scholars who believe that the bones belong to the royal Magnus.

All the evidence points to the conclusion that Magnus Haroldson found refuge in Poland after the fall of Anglo-Saxon England, he said.

The historian now wants the bones in question, which lie largely forgotten in an archaeological facility west of Warsaw, to undergo DNA testing. 

A mysterious grave discovered in a Polish castle nearly 60 years ago contained the remains of the lost son of Englands vanquished King Harold, a historian has claimed. Above: A sketch of the grave that was found in Czersk

King Harold of England was defeated at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Above: The 11th century Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts Harold with an arrow through his eye

Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon English king, is known today as the monarch who was defeated by William the Conqueror.

William became the first Norman king of England after his successful invasion and victory at Hastings. 

The battle between Harolds forces and Williams invaders took place 958 years ago this month, on October 14, 1066. 

The grave in question was uncovered during an archaeological dig at the castle hill in the town of Czersk. 

In the 11th century it was the administrative and military heart of the entire Mazovia duchy.

Archaeologists found there the remains of a man buried in a style uncommon in Poland but typical of Scandinavian and Anglo Saxon warrior elites.

The man was laid to rest in a large, iron-reinforced wooden coffin, an impressive feature in itself, and surrounded by rich grave goods that spoke to his high status.

Inside the grave was a spear, a sword, two bronze bowls, and a gold ring, items that pointed toward the mans noble origins and possibly Scandinavian connections. 

Alongside these objects was a wooden bucket, another feature linked to Scandinavian burials.

The skeleton, which belonged to a man aged around 60 who stood at just over 5ft 9in – tall for the time – showed evidence of numerous healed injuries, suggesting he had lived a warriors life and survived many battles.

The archaeologists in the 1960s knew that a man named Magnus had been a komes, a kind of royal administrator, at Czersk and they were satisfied that they had found him.

A sketch of the objects that were found buried with the man who some historians believe was the son of Harold Godwinson

However, it wasnt until thirty years later that Polish historian Tomasz Jurek made a compelling connection.

He seized upon a tantalising passage from the 12th-century Polish chronicler Gallus Anonymous, in which Magnus is described as a man of princely blood from a distant kingdom.

This crucial detail allowed Jurek to link the Count Magnus of Polish history with the lost English prince.

For Mr Piwowarczyk, this is the most compelling evidence. The rarity of the name Magnus and his princely pedigree point to Magnus Haroldson, he said.

The estimated age of the skeleton and the date of death, around 1109, align perfectly with Magnus Haroldsons timeline, who was born around 1051.

Magnus Haroldson was the third son of King Harold Godwinson and Edith Swan-neck. 

He was still a young man when his father was killed at the Battle of Hastings.

After the Norman invasion, Magnus and his brothers, Godwin and Edmund, sought to reclaim their fathers throne, but their efforts were met with repeated failure.

In 1068, the brothers fled to Ireland, where they gained the support of King Diarmait of Leinster. 

From there, they launched several attempts to invade southwestern England with a fleet of mercenaries, but despite their efforts, their forces were ultimately defeated.

English chronicles are silent on the fate of Magnus, which led some historians in Britain to suggest he died in a clash with Norman forces at the Battle of Bleadon.

The remains were found at Czersk Castle (pitured) in 1966

Mr Piwowarczyk believes that Magnus in fact turned to Denmark, where his family had longstanding connections.

He cites a German chronicle that explicitly states that Magnuss brothers Edmund and Godwin went to Ireland, but not Magnus.

This is where Magnuss story becomes intertwined with Poland.

According to records, Polish king Bolesław the Brave agreed to send Polish troops to aid the Wessex brothers in their campaign to retake the English crown.

Polish historians believe that Magnus, after his stay in Denmark, travelled further along the Baltic coast to raise an army of mercenaries, where he may have come into contact with members of Polands ruling court.

A huge clue that points to Magnus Haroldsons presence in Poland was his sister Gythas marriage to Vladimir Monomakh, the Duke of Smolensk and future Grand Duke of Kievan Rus in 1074.

According to Mr Piwowarczyk, Gythas marriage demonstrates that the Wessex siblings were no strangers to forging alliances in foreign courts.

He says it supports the theory that Magnus might have sought refuge – and a new life – further east after his military failures in England and Denmark.

Mr Piwowarczyk believes that Vladimir may have met Gytha while being hosted at the Polish court and claims it is likely that Magnus came to Poland via this route.

After the Norman Conquest of 1066, it was not uncommon for Anglo-Saxon warriors to seek refuge abroad. 

Some fled to Scotland, where resistance to Norman rule persisted for a time, while others traveled to Denmark, leveraging old family ties. 

Many even journeyed as far as the Eastern Roman Empire and joined the Varangian Guard, the elite military unit made up of foreign mercenaries in Constantinople.

For a country like Poland, which had been relatively recently integrated into the Christian world, figures like Magnus Haroldson would have been invaluable. 

Polish rulers not only needed seasoned warriors but also men of high status with formal education, particularly those who knew Latin, military strategy, and architecture.

A prince like Magnus, with his royal lineage and diverse skills, would have been an asset to the court.

One of the most intriguing pieces of evidence linking Magnus Haroldson to Count Magnus of Poland is the dragon-like wyvern found on the coat of arms of Mazovia. 

In England, the wyvern was closely associated with the Wessex dynasty.

Its appearance in Polish heraldry is unusual, as dragon symbols were rarely used in medieval Europe. 

Mr Piwowarczyk suggests that this could be a sign of Magnuss influence in introducing elements of Anglo-Saxon tradition to the Polish court.

Some researchers also suggest that a new strain of DNA, specifically Y-DNA haplogroups I1-ASP and I1-T2, appeared in the Polish nobility around the time that Magnus is believed to have settled in Poland.

These haplogroups are typically found in populations from England and Denmark, which aligns with Magnuss Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon heritage.

Mr Piwowarczyk is also fascinated by the rarity of Magnuss name.

This together with his foreign princely pedigree mean that there is no doubt for me that we are talking about Magnus Haroldson, he said. 

Another theory places Magnus in Lewes, southern England, where a monument at St. Johns Church bears an inscription about a man named Magnus. The inscription suggests that a warrior of royal Danish descent became a hermit, casting off his noble life to serve God

However, another theory places Magnus in Lewes, southern England, where a monument at St. Johns Church bears an inscription about a man named Magnus. 

The inscription suggests that a warrior of royal Danish descent became a hermit, casting off his noble life to serve God.

This has led to the belief that Magnus Haroldson may have survived the battles and, disillusioned, sought refuge in monastic life. 

However, the inscription is dated to around 1200, long after Magnuss lifetime.

The mystery surrounding Magnus Haroldson could potentially be resolved through DNA testing, a solution supported by Mr Piwowarczyk. 

If DNA from the skeleton could be compared with that of known descendants of the Wessex dynasty, it could confirm whether the two Magnuses are indeed the same person, he said.

However, historian Dr Łukasz Maurycy Stanaszek believes this will be difficult.

Unfortunately, the fact that the remains were stored in different warehouses, at different temperatures, and because many years have passed since they were excavated from the ground, and because of the time that has passed since the mans death (almost a thousand years!), it has not been possible to obtain DNA material of such quality that would allow us to determine the male so-called haplogroup, which would tell us more about the genetic origin of the knight from Czersk.

Initial attempts at genetic analysis have been inconclusive, largely due to the degradation of the remains over time.

Despite these obstacles, the prospect of solving the mystery through DNA testing remains. 

Advances in technology offer the possibility of retrieving enough genetic material for analysis.

Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England

Historian Dariusz Piwowarczyk believes the skeleton found in 1966 is that of Magnus Haroldson

William the Conqueror depicted after his victory at the Battle of Hastings

If successful, DNA testing could finally provide a conclusive answer to this historical puzzle and reveal whether Magnus Haroldsons journey took him to the heart of medieval Poland.

Today, the remains believed to be those of Magnus Haroldson lie forgotten in a box, stored in an archaeological facility in the town of Sochaczew, around 20miles west of Warsaw. 

They have yet to receive the recognition or dignity one might expect for a prince of royal blood.

Mr Piwowarczyk believes it would be fitting for Magnus, if confirmed as the son of King Harold Godwinson, to be moved from his current home in a cardboard box to a place more fitting for a royal prince.

However, rather than being laid to rest alongside his father, whose remains are believed to be at Waltham Abbey in Essex, or even at Westminster Abbey next to Edward the Confessor, he says that his remains should stay in Poland, maybe even at Czersk castle.