Battle of Gate Fulford

• 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
• 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
• Difficulties and arguments could arise due to the varied ways of choosing kings in Anglo-Saxon England
• Harold Godwinson was chosen by the Witton in January 1066 as the most popular noble
• Harold Godwinson claims he was promised the throne by Edward, although there is some dispute over this
• Harold Godwinson is aged in his 40s, experienced in military command, popular with the English people and nobility
• Harold Godwinson is a member of the powerful House of Godwin with useful allies
• Edgar the Etheling inherited a claim from his father and is a relative of Edward the Confessor
• Edgar the Etheling is young and inexperienced, about 14 years old in 1066
• The Witten chose Harold Godwinson over Edgar the Etheling due to Edgar's young age and inexperience
• 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
• Etheling means prince or highborn
• Foreign claimants

  • Harald Hardrada
  • William of Normandy
• Harald Hardrada


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

  Means harsh council or hard ruler
• Harald Hardrada is allied with Tostig Godwinson


  They plan to invade England to expand power, wealth, and lands
• England was ruled by a Dane before, King Knute, considered a strong and effective ruler with a weak claim inherited from a promise made to his father
• William of Normandy


  Experienced and ruthless leader, not a king but a duke, led a modern army with innovative tactics, claimed Edward had promised him the throne, backed by the Pope and several allies
• 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, promised to support William of Normandy
• Edgar Atheling was related to Edward but too young to be supported as a military ruler
• William of Normandy had some claim, promised support by Harold, gathered an invasion force with allies, poised to launch an invasion of the south coast
• Succession crisis led to uncertainty about the strongest claimant