The Succession Crisis

• Edward the Confessor is dead
• Edward the Confessor had no clear heir to the throne
• Succession


  In this case, it usually means what comes next and who will be the next king
• When the monarch dies, the next living relative male or female takes over
• In the 11th century Saxon England, there were few set rules for succession
• Acceptable reasons to be an heir to the throne in Anglo-Saxon England

  • Being a blood relative
  • Being chosen as the heir by a previous king
  • Being accepted as a king by the English nobles
• If you have the support of the English nobles, you have the strength to rule
• Claimants to the throne in 1066

  • Harold Godwinson
  • Edgar Atheling
  • Harold Hardrada
  • William of Normandy
• How kings were chosen in Anglo-Saxon England

  Based on being a blood relative, chosen by a previous king, accepted by English nobles
• The method of choosing kings in Anglo-Saxon England could lead to difficulties and arguments
• Creating a table for claimants to the throne in 1066

  Include relevant details, their claim, strength of claim, chance of success
• Harold Godwinson


  • Experienced and talented military commander
  • Popular with English people and nobility
  • Chosen by the Witton in January 1066
  • Claimed to be promised the throne by Edward
  • Aged in his 40s
  • Member of the powerful House of Godwin
  • Proclaimed king on January 6th, 1066
• Edgar Atheling


  • Inherited a claim from his father
  • Relative of Edward the Confessor
  • About 14 years old in 1066
  • Considered too young and inexperienced to lead armies in war
• Harold is about 14 years old in 1066, too young and inexperienced to lead armies in war
• Harold Godwinson was chosen over Edgar by the Witten due to Harold's little experience of ruling, despite being born to a noble family
• Ethnic or Atheling means prince or highborn
• Foreign claimants

  • Harald Hardrada
  • William of Normandy
• Harald Hardrada


  King of the Norwegians and a ferocious Viking warrior, commands a powerful army
• Hardrada

  Means harsh council or hard ruler
• England was ruled by a Dane before, King Knute, considered a strong and effective ruler
• William of Normandy, also known as William the Bastard, was Duke of Normandy, experienced and ruthless leader, led a modern army with innovative tactics
• William claimed Edward had promised him the throne, had close dealings with Harold Godwinson, claimed Harold had sworn an oath to support him
• William claimed to be backed up by the Pope
• Death of Edward the Confessor led to a succession crisis with four main claimants: Harold Godwinson, Edgar Atheling, Harald Hardrada, and William of Normandy
• Harold Godwinson was proclaimed king by the Witten but had no family connection to Edward
• Edgar Atheling was related to Edward but was too young to be supported as a military ruler
• William of Normandy had some claim and had been promised support by Harold, but would have to mount a risky cross-channel invasion
• It is uncertain who had the strongest claim to the throne in 1066