Today’s Learning Muscle Year 9 GCSE History Lesson 4 date Claiming the Throne Learning Gain: All learners will explore the rival claims for the English throne. Today we will: Today’s Learning Muscle Research the individuals with claims to the throne. Evaluate the strength of different claims. Explore the decision made regarding Edward’s successor.

Who got to decide who the next king should be?

Edward died on 5 January, 1066. He had no children at the time, therefore there was a succession crisis. (Succession simply means the process that decides who should be the next king or queen and ‘succeed’ the throne.) Sources, like the Bayeux Tapestry above, suggest that upon his death, Edward passed protection of England on to Harold Godwinson. However, Harold had competition from many other claims.

In groups of three or four, Group Task In groups of three or four, research and evaluate the strength of one of the rival claims to the throne. Name of Claimant Claim (why does he think he should be king?) Strength of claim Chance of Success Could use text only (not tables) from p.26 & 27 or laptops to compile research.

Claimant Reason for Claim Strength of Claim Chance of Success

Explain two factors that linked together to cause this crisis. Main Task How would Edgar Aethling – the only claimant with royal blood – have felt about the idea of other people claiming the throne? Multi-structural Explain two factors that linked together to cause this crisis. Relational How do you think this crisis would have been solved? Predict the next steps for Anglo-Saxon England after Edward’s death. Extended - Abstract

Plenary The Witan chose Harold Godwinson to be Edward’s successor. What problems would he face? Godwinson’s coronation was just one day after Edward’s death.