Hello!

My apologizes for any informalities! I don't often write questions on Reddit, and this is my first time asking on r/AskHistorians! Here's some background: I've been attempting to write a work of historical fiction about 1066 England, encompassing the Norwegian and Norman Invasion of England. The story has several POV characters, currently including King Harold II Godwinson, Duke William II 'the Bastard' of Normandy, Earl Tostig Godwinson the ousted Earl of Northumbria, Hakon Sweynson who spent his young life as a hostage in Normandy, and Gytha Thorkelsdóttir the wife of Earl Godwin and the family's matriarch. In each chapter, I tend to give the reader the person's perspective; you look through the biases, opinions, and general disposition of those characters, their flaws, virtues, all. I have created characters of my own and those without historical basis, however, I typically do this with a purpose of showing a different perspective of a group that might otherwise be disregarded or ignored; Eilmer of Malmesbury is one such who I plan to tie in with an ahistorical character (how can you not mention the guy who tried to fly and was essential to the Hailey's Comet prophesy, I mean come on!) and I hope to do the same to other groups and give a bit of recognition to the different people who coexisted together.

The story currently has five chapters and over sixty thousand words. Unfortunately, I am only in the month February 1066, where my story ends in December of 1066. Needless to say, I've come to slight stop due to a lack of sources on my part. So, without further adieu, here are some of my questions!

The Court of King Harold II and Duke William of Normandy: do we know of any courtiers, soldier/warriors, bishops, monks, or family members that resided in Court during that time (Winter/Spring/Summer? And court was in London, not Winchester, correct? These questions are mostly directed at Harold, but if there are any notable/important courtiers or players in the William's court in Caen, I'd appreciate any information!

Speaking of William, a question about his minstrel/juggler/fool, Taillefer: is he related to the Taillefers' as in the Count of Angoulême? If so, do we know his relation (I had researched his first name and found Ivo, but I did not know if that was confirmed) to the main family or anything about his background/age/mentality?

Back to Harold in England! I have been trying to map out his next chapter, essentially how things have been since he took the crown in the first chapter. How was his reign? Was it dedicated only to fighting the Norman and Norwegian threat, or did he start looking into innovation, and continuing how he had under King Edward? Additionally, were there any stances/policies/innovations that Edward had started to implement, that Harold had agreed with and would have continued to go forth with, had he not died so early into his reign/survived and won both wars? Also, the relationship between Edward and Harold, was it strained? I know Tostig was King Edward's close friend, but did the two men have a decent enough relationship, as Tostig was exiled while Edward still lived? And how was Edward's relationship with his wife, after the events of the Crisis of 1051/52?

Who was the relative of Godwin, the one which he had hoped to appoint to the Bishopric of Canterbury which had sparked the Crisis of 1051/52?

How rich was Godwin, and his sons after his passing? I understand that Wessex was essentially the richest of the earldoms, and that since Harold had been an Earl before his father's death, he accumulated a bit of personal wealth himself, how rich was he, say, compared to Duke William or other European monarchs? Could their wealth have been utilized better, say, to raise more men or contract a fighting force?

The Crisis of 1051/52, Diarmait mac Máel na mBó, King of Leinster gave aid to the Harold and Leofwine Godwinson, Leofwine being only about 16/17 during this time. Do we have much of a recount of their time in Leinster, or generally in Ireland for that matter? And of the men they recruited, did many/some of them settle in England afterwards/make up a portion of the fighting force year later in 1066? (Being a descendant of the Irish diaspora myself, I would love to write a few Irishmen into the story if there is a historical basis for it!)

Finally, Tostig! Perhaps my favorite character to write, given his struggle, conflict, and eventual end! Do we know of any particular soldier/men who travelled with him on his way to Flanders, Normandy, Raiding the English Coast, Scotland, Denmark, Norway, and finally back to England with the invasion force? Or any men who were with him up until he raided the English Coast? Continuing, do we know anything of his illegitimate children, or of their mothers? I had read he had two sons by his wife, Judith of Flanders, and up to three/four illegitimate children, was anymore written about the children or his extramarital affairs? Speaking of which, how did he get along with Judith? I understand that both were described as intelligent, but are there any sources/references to their marriage or relations with one another?

Those are the extent of my questions...for now! If any of the above questions could be answered, or if anyone can push me in the right direction for getting some of these questions answered, I would be extremely grateful! If need be, I can provide contact information and willing to speak in depth to anyone who is very knowledgeable of this timeframe! I hope that this isn't flagged, or that I am not violating any rules or length, I only wanted to ask all these questions at once rather than posting all the questions individually, as they are very in-depth and tied together question! I am hoping to create an enjoyable story, as well as bring to light the different perspectives and events which led up to it. If you're unfamiliar with the events or with the background, you should consider looking into it, you can't make this stuff up!

Anyway, history is freaking awesome! Thank you all for everything!