1. The rival claimants for the throne Flashcards
What claim did Edgar Æthling have to the throne?
Royal blood - he was Edward the Confessor’s nephew.
What support did Edgar Æthling for gaining the throne? What were his chances of success as a result?
He lacked support from the English nobility, as they wanted a strong warrior king
His chances of success as a result were extremely weak
What claim did Harald Hardrada have to the throne? How strong was this claim?
His claim was based on military might and links to old Danish kings (e.g. Cnut). He was probably swayed to make a claim by Tostig.
His claim, in itself, was quite weak - the north might agree (due to being ruled by Danes in the past - Danelaw)
What was Harald Hardrada’s chance of success for gaining the throne?
Quite good - he had 15 000 warriors and 300 Viking long ships to use at his command
What claim did William of Normandy have to the throne? How strong was his claim and why?
He was a smart warrior who defended his lands for years
He claimed Edward had promised him the throne in 1051, and that Harold had confirmed this in 1064
The Pope supported William’s claim
Quite strong - the Pope supported him, and Harold clearly saw him as a threat - once he was coronated, he brought the southern fyrd together
What was William’s chance of success for gaining the throne?
Quite good: large army, and had what he saw as a strong claim to the throne
When was Harold crowned king?
January 6th, 1066
When was the Battle of Gate Fulford?
September 20th, 1066
Who was the Battle of Gate Fulford fought between?
Side 1: Edwin and Morcar
Side 2: Harald Hardrada and Tostig
Who won at Gate Fulford?
The Viking invaders
What did York do as a result of the Battle of Gate Fulford?
York surrendered to Tostig and Hardrada, who demanded hostages from the English
How many soldiers and warships did the Vikings have going into Fulford?
How many soldiers did Edwin and Morcar have?
Vikings: 10 000 soldiers,
around 300 warships
Anglo-Saxons: 6 000 soldiers
When was the southern fyrd initially disbanded? Why?
September 8th, 1066
It was expensive to keep the army ready, and the men needed to return to their farms
When was the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
September 25th, 1066
Which were the two sides at Stamford Bridge?
The Vikings (Hardrada + Tostig)
Harold Godwinson
