1. How did Edward’s death cause problems?
Starter: What is the story behind this scene?
Challenge: Why might this not be the most reliable of sources?
Harold is swearing on holy relics to support William’s claim to the English throne.

2. The Death of Edward the Confessor
On 5th January 1066, Edward the Confessor died at the age of 55.
Rumoured to have died a virgin; he had no heir.
There would now be a succession crisis
Sources report that on his deathbed, Edward said to Harold Godwinson: “I commend this woman with all the kingdom to your protection”
It was now up to the Witan to choose the next Anglo-Saxon King of England – problem was that 4 people had a claim!

4. Learning Tasks
All
Split your page into a quad – in each section explain the strengths and weaknesses of each person’s claim. Use pp to help.
Harold Godwinson
Harald Hardrada
William, Duke of Normandy
Edgar Aethling
Target 9-7
‘By 1066, Harold had already been king in all but name. He was by far the best candidate to rule the kingdom’ – find evidence to support this claim
Target 6-4
Explain how Harold had a better claim that William, Duke of Normandy. Top tip: compare both claims.
Target 3-2
Who do you believe had the better claim? Explain your answer with precise evidence.

5. Duke William justified his claim through his blood relationship with Edward the Confessor (they were distant cousins)
William strengthened this claim by stating that Edward the Confessor had designated him as his successor in 1051.
William claimed Harold Godwinson had sworn a sacred oath of allegiance to him and to his right to the throne
When Harold broke the oath William received religious and political backing from Rome to start a Holy Crusade against Harold who the Pope had excommunicated!

6. Harold Godwinson asserted that he had been chosen by Edward the Confessor to be the next King of England
When King Edward the Confessor lay dying his wife Edith and Harold Godwinson were at his bedside. According to Harold, King Edward's dying words were:  "I commend my wife and all my kingdom to your care“
Harold insisted that he had been tricked into taking the sacred oath of allegiance he had made to Duke William. And that he was not told that he was swearing the pledge on sacred religious relics - in his view he had been duped and owed the Norman Duke no allegiance and refuted his claim to the English throne
The rightful heir to the throne of England was Edgar the Aetheling, the grandson of Edmund Ironside but he was only a ten year old boy and deemed too young to control the turbulent English realm
The Witan (a council consisting of 60 of England's most powerful nobles) offered the crown to Harold in preference to all other contenders
Harold Godwinson was an Anglo-Saxon!

7. In 1016 the Viking King Canute became King of England, Denmark and Norway. He ruled until 1035
King Canute was succeeded by Hardicanute who ruled England until 1042
King Hardicanute had no heir and promised the English throne to King Magnus of Norway
The Saxon, Edward the Confessor, seized the English throne in 1042
King Magnus of Norway was too old to battle Edward the Confessor for the English throne
Magnus's son and heir was Hardrada
The Viking Hardrada's claim to the English throne
Hardrada asserted that he, as Magnus's son and heir, was the rightful ruler of England due to the agreement between his father and Hardicanute the Danish ruler of England

8. Edgar the Aetheling's claim to the throne of England was based on a strong blood tie with the Anglo Saxon Kings of England
He was the grandson of Edmund Ironside
He was a direct descendent of Alfred the Great - the most respected of all Anglo-Saxon Kings
Edgar the Aetheling's claim to the English throne
Edgar the Aetheling was the rightful heir to Edward the Confessor and should have been crowned King of England
But he was only ten years old when Edward the Confessor died
He did not have the wealth, power or strength of Harold Godwinson
He did not have the support of the Witan (the English council which consisted of 60 of the most powerful nobles in England)
Edgar the Aetheling was not considered strong enough to hold the throne and defend the realm from the Normans and the Vikings
He did not stand a chance against the might of Harold Godwinson