When did Edward the Confessor die?
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When did Edward the Confessor die?
Edward the Confessor died on 5th January 1066. Edward was roughly 63 years old.
True or False?
Edward the Confessor's death occurred during the uprising against Tostig.
False.
Edward the Confessor's death happened after the uprising against Tostig, in January 1066. Edward was experiencing declining health during the uprising.
Define a succession crisis in the context of Edward the Confessor's death.
A succession crisis is a period of uncertainty about who will become the next king or queen of a country. Edward and his wife Edith did not have any children. This means that there was not a clear heir to the throne.
What phrase did Harold Godwinson claim that Edward the Confessor said to him on his deathbed that made him believe that he should be King of England?
Harold Godwinson claimed that Edward the Confessor said "'I commend this woman [Edith, Edward's wife and Harold's sister] with all the kingdom to your protection.'
True or False?
After Edward the Confessor's death, the Church needed to decide who would be the next King of England.
False.
The Witan needed to decide who had the best claim to the English throne after Edward the Confessor's death. Several people had claims to the English throne.
Define a claimant in terms of the events of 1066.
A claimant is a person who asks for something that they believe belongs to them or that they have a right to. There were four claimants to the English throne in 1066. They all had strengths and weaknesses as potential kings of England.
True or False?
Harold Godwinson's claim to the throne was solely based on blood relation to Edward the Confessor.
False.
Harold Godwinson's claim to the throne was based on his family connection to Edward, his political influence in England as the Earl of Wessex and witnesses hearing Edward's deathbed promise to Harold.
State three weaknesses with Harold Godwinson's claim to the English throne in 1066.
The three weaknesses of Harold Godwinson's claim to the English throne are:
He was not a blood relative of Edward
Edward had not fully trusted Godwinson
The witnesses to Edward's deathbed promise were men loyal to Harold who could have lied about the promise
Which claimant had the strongest blood connection to Edward the Confessor?
The claimant that had the strongest blood connection to Edward the Confessor was Edgar Aethling. Edgar was King Edward's great-nephew.
What prevented the Witan from choosing Edgar Aethling as the next King of England in 1066?
The Witan were afraid of the threat from Normandy and Scandinavia. Edgar was only a teenager. They did not believe that Edgar was strong enough to rule England.
Define 'Hardrada' in the context of the succession crisis in 1066.
'Hardrada' meant 'stern ruler.' Harald Hardrada was the Viking King of Norway. This nickname showed that Hardrada was a strong, warrior king.
Why did Hardrada have a weak claim to the throne in 1066?
Harald Hardrada's claim was considered weak because Hardrada did not have a claim to the English throne in his own right. Hardrada took Magnus Olafsson's claim to the English throne after his death in 1047.
What strengthened William, Duke of Normandy's claim to the English throne?
William's claim was strengthened by an alleged agreement with Edward to name him as his heir. William was Edward the Confessor's cousin. William also had support from the Pope.
Why did many people in England not want William or Hardrada to be the King of England?
Many people in England did not want William or Hardrada to be the King of England because they were not English. William spoke a different language than the English and only the Danelaw would welcome a Viking monarch like Hardrada.
Name the three factors that influenced the Witan's decision on who should be king next in Anglo-Saxon times.
The three factors that influenced the Witan's decision were:
If the king had a son
The military needs of the country
The interests of the earls who formed the Witan
Who did the Witan select to be king in January 1066?
The Witan selected Harold Godwinson be king on 6th January 1066.
Define coronation in the context of 1066.
A coronation is a ceremony at which a person is made king or queen. Harold Godwinson's coronation took place on 6th January 1066. This was on the same day as Edward the Confessor's funeral.
Why did the Witan select Harold Godwinson quickly?
The Witan made the decision quickly because they feared an invasion from William, Duke of Normandy. Selecting Harold quickly would allow the lords to prepare England's defences.
True or False?
Harold Godwinson had annoyed the Earl of Northumbria.
False.
Harold annoyed the Earl of Mercia. This meant that Harold potentially faced a lack of support from his earls.
Define fleet in terms of the events after Harold Godwinson's coronation.
A fleet is a group of ships that belong to a country or person. After Harold's coronation, the Witan received reports that William was preparing a fleet to set sail to England.
What did Tostig Godwinson do in May 1066?
Tostig arrived in England in May 1066 with an invasion force. Once Tostig discovered the size of Harold Godwinson's army, he left.
How did the Earl of Mercia prove his loyalty to Harold Godwinson in early 1066?
The Earl of Mercia proved his loyalty to Harold Godwinson by defeating Tostig's army when they sailed to Lincoln.
Which other claimant to the throne did Tostig Godwinson ally with after his failed invasion?
Tostig Godwinson allied himself with Harald Hardrada. He began talks with Hardrada after he fled to Scotland.
True or False?
One of Harold Godwinson's first acts as king was to place an army on the south coast.
True.
Harold placed his army on the south coast throughout the summer, expecting an invasion from William. However, when William's army did not arrive, Harold stood down the army in September 1066.