The Earls' Position

• Strength

  William might have gained control of the Earldom of Wessex but Edwin (Earl of Mercia) and Morcar (Earl of Northumbria) were the two next strongest Earldoms representing over half the country
• Strength

  The earls and other leading noblemen had rallied around Edgar, who had a much better claim to the throne than William
• Weakness

  Although London was a stronghold, William's route threatened to cut it off from reinforcements from the North

  William may have spotted weaknesses in the defences making him take this route
• Weakness

  Battle of Hastings was a crushing defeat with the best warriors in England being killed

  Many Anglo-Saxons believed that God had decided to punish England for being sinful
• Weakness

  Edgar had only recently arrived in England, without ready-made support

  Took no decisive action as King

  Most likely because the earls and himself could not agree on what to do