New King - King Harold II

Question 1

Harold’s Coronation

Answer 1

Harold Godwinson was crowned King Harold II by the Witan on 6th January 1066, and was seen as the rightful king by the most powerful earls in England

Question 2

Support for Harold

Answer 2

Harold’s greatest support was in Wessex and the south of England. The earls in the north were independently minded and often challenged the authority of the king, who was based in the south

Question 3

Potential threats

Answer 3

Harold knew that Duke William of Normandy had begun preparations for invasion immediately after Harold was crowned. The King of Norway, Harald Hardrada and the King of Scotland were also potential threats to King Harold II

Question 4

What did Harold do to secure his place on the throne?

Answer 4

King Harold II took four major steps to secure his grip on the crown during his nine months as king.

These are as follows…

Question 5

1. Harold confronts Edwin and Morcar

Answer 5

Harold took an army to the north of England to confront the two powerful Anglo-Saxon earls, the brothers Edwin and Morcar

Question 6

2. Marriage

Answer 6

Harold secured the loyalty of Edwin and Morcar by agreeing to marry their sister, Edith

Question 7

3. Hardrada threat

Answer 7

Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria agreed to defend the north from any attack by Harald Hardrada

Question 8

4. William threat

Answer 8

King Harold II then assembled a large army in the south to confront the larger threat from Normandy, led by Duke William