Succession Crisis Flashcards
Why were there different contenders for the throne after Edward the Confessor died?
Because Edward the Confessor was childless when he died, it wasn’t clear who should succeed him as king. Several people claimed to be his rightful heir.
Who were the 4 contenders to the throne?
- Edgar Aethling
- Harold Godwinson
- William Duke of Normandy
- Harald Hadrada
How did Edgar the Aethling have a claim to the throne through familial relationships?
- Edgar Aetheling was Edward the Confessor’s closest blood relative- his great-nephew
- Described to be treated by Edward like an adopted son
- He was called the Aetheling, which was a name for those with noble blood and that indicated an heir apparent or eligibility to the throne.
How did Harold Godwinson have a claim to the throne through familial relationships?
Harold Godwinson was Edward the Confessor’s brother-in-law. His sister, Edith, was married to Edward.
How did William 1st have a claim to the throne through familial relationships?
William, Duke of Normandy, was related to Edward the Confessor through his great-aunt, Emma of Normandy, who was Edward’s mother.
How did Harald Hadrada have a claim to the throne through familial relationships?
Harald Hardrada inherited the claim to the throne through an agreement between Harthacnut and Magnus (nephew of Harald), which Harald claimed extended to him.
How was Edgar Aethling a contender to the throne through military power?
Edgar was fifteen when Edward died. He had no military experience, and no wealth. That meant he had little military support to defend the kingdom.
How was Harold Godwinson a contender to the throne through military power?
Harold Godwinson had the support of the Witan, thegns and earls in England. This meant that he could raise an army of about 8,000 men, with potentially many more from the fyrd.
He also had military experience through his military campaigns on the behalf of Edward the Confessor in 1063-4 defeating Welsh King Gruffydd
How was William 1st a contender to the throne through military power?
-William had years of military experience. Notably in 1047, at the tender age of 19, William defeated a coalition of some of the strongest Norman barons at the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes
He had a strong, skilled army of at least 7,000 men, including archers and cavalry.
How was Harald Hadrada a contender to the throne through military power?
Harald Hardrada had a strong fleet of about 300 ships, and could raise as many as 10,000 soldiers.
Harald had also spent around fifteen years in exile as a mercenary and military commander in Kyivan Rus’ and of the Varangian Guard in the Byzantine Empire
When he was fifteen years old, in 1030, Harald fought in the Battle of Stiklestad together with his half-brother Olaf Haraldsson (later Saint Olaf).
What promise did Edward the Confessor provide to William the 1st?
William, duke of Normandy claimed to have an agreement with Edward the Confessor, made in 1051, that he would inherit the throne if Edward died childless.
This was known as Post-Obitum
What promise did Edward the Confessor provide to Harold Godwinson?
The Anglo-Saxons claimed that, on his deathbed, Edward promised the crown to Harold Godwinson.
This was known Novissima Verba
What alliances did Harold Godwinson and Edgar Aethling to the throne have in 1066?
Harold Godwinson had the support of thegns, earls and Witan in England. They wanted a strong military leader, and so preferred his claim to Edgar Aetheling’s.
What alliances did William have to the throne have in 1066?
William had the support of the pope Alexander II. He also claimed that Harold Godwinson had sworn to support his claim during his Normandy embassy of 1064.
What alliances did Harald Hadrada have to the throne have in 1066?
Harald Hardrada had the support of Tostig Godwinson, Harold’s brother. There was also a possibility that he might be a popular choice in the Danelaw.
