Why Was There Rivalry For The Throne ? Flashcards
What happens when King Edward died?
1066, January
Sources claim before he died he entrusted his wife and his kingdom to Harold Godwinson
The next day the Witan nominated Harold Godwinson for successor
What are the different reasons for why there was rivalry for the throne in 1066? List all 7
-The wealth of Anglo Saxon England
-The claim and motives of William of Normandy
-English customs about succession
-The claim and motives of Harold of Norway
-The nature of Harold’s succession
-King Edward died without a strong blood heir
-king Edwards’s attitude to the succession
Expand on English customs about the succession ?
There where no hard and fast rules about succession at the time
3 factors where however important for someone to be king
-Being a blood relative of a previous king
-Being identified as his successor by the previous king
-Being accepted as king by the English nobles
Expand on ‘Edward died without a strong blood heir’
-Edward and his wife had no children
-This meant Edward did not have a direct heir to inherit the crown
-For whatever reason wether out of resentment for Edith’s family, the Godwinson, being wealthier than him or one of them was infertile they didn’t have any children
Who was the one male relative who could of been identified as heir of Edward?
Great nephew Edgar Aethljng
His surname means throne reading suggesting he was seen as a possible future king
There where two reasons why Edward and the Witan did not choose him
He was only about 14 at the time of Edwards death
He didn’t have any supports among the earls to support him as king
Expand on edwards attitude to the succession ? What where the two ‘promises’ he made, why he might of chosen them and why not
William Duke of Normandy
- Norman chroniclers wrote that Edward promised the throne to him
in 1051
-Edward fought with the Earl of Godwin in 1051. He may of wanted William’s support and protection.
- Edward invited Edward the exile back to England suggesting he was unsure about who should be heir
Harold Godwinson
- Anglo Saxon chroniclers say Edward ‘granted’ the kingdom to Harold
- may of believed Harold would make a good king or he was pressured by Harold’s sister (his wife) to make a this decision but we don’t really know
Explaind on the nature of Harold’s succession ?
- he was quickly crowned however no records have survived from the meeting that took place between members of the Witan
- It is likely given his phenomenal power, military strength and wealth he was given the crown.
- He would of protected England a lot better than Edgar Aethling
-however the coronation was very rushed which could lead suspision
Expand on the claims and motives of Harold Hadrada of Noway?
Motives: king of Norway, he conquered Norway after being exiled and then Tostig Godwinson encouraged him to invade following Harold’s coronation
Claims: weak claim, was loosely based of relations between King Harrhacnut but his claim was mainly based of the power of his battle axe
Expand on the claims and motives of William of Normandy? Remember his three different claims the promise, Harold’s pledge and Archbishop stigand
Motives: William was an experienced soldier and ruler from France, by conquering England he could acquired more land and extend Normandies power
Claims: king Edward had promised him the throne in 1051
-Harold promised and pledged to help William become king( he broke this promise by being crowned meaning he deserved to die)
-Harold’s coronation was unlawful as Archbishop Stigand performed it who the pope condemned
