Norman Conquest Flashcards
Key Events In The English Monarchy Time Period
1016-1066
Key Event-1016
Aethelred the Unready (English) dies and Canute (Viking) becomes King
Key Event-1017
Aethelred’s widow Emma (English) marries Canute
Key Event-1035
Canute dies
Key Event-1035 to 1040
Harold Harefoot’s reign
Key Event-1040 to 1042
Harthacanute’s reign
Key Event-1042
Edward the Confessor becomes King
Key Event-1051
Godwin family exiled
Key Event-1052
Return of the Godwin’s
Key Event-Late 1050s
Harold proclaimed sub-regulus
Key Event-1066
January: Edward the Confessor dies
Edwards Path to the Throne-1035
- Canute died and it wasn’t clear if one of his sons would take over the Throne
- Two of his sons had short reigns: Harefoot, then Harthcanute who invited Edward to England
Edwards Path to the Throne-1042
-Edward amended the throne in June as Harthcanutes successor
Edwards Path to the Throne-1043
-Edward was crowned in April easily as the Vikings were distracted by attacks from Scandinavia
Edwards Path to the Throne-1045
He married Earl Godwin’s daughter
The Norman Connection to the Throne
- Aethelred’s widow and sons, Emma, Alfred and Edward escaped to Normandy where they were protected by Emma’s brother and Duke of Normandy, Richard.
- Emma was forced to return to England to marry Canute, while Richard raised her sons.
The Viking Connection to the Throne
-In 1016 the Viking, King Canute, killed English King Aethelred and ruled over England for the next 20 years
The English Connection to the Throne
- England was apart of the Empire ruled by Canute
- England was divided into 4 Earldoms: Wessex, Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia
- The Earls were the most powerful men under Canute and Earl Godwin of Wessex was the most powerful
Rivals for the Throne
- Edgar the Aetheling
- Harold Hardrada
- Harold Godwinson
- William Duke of Normandy
Rivals for the Throne: Edgar the Aetheling
- Great Nephew of the King
- Edward had promised his father the Throne, however his father was dead
- He was an AngloSaxon
Rivals for the Throne: Harold Hardrada
- Powerful and Experienced
- Canute promised Hardrada’s father the Throne before his father died
- He’s a Viking