The Succession Crisis

What was the succession crisis of 1066?

After Edward the Confessor died on 5th January, 1066, there was a struggle for the throne of England between four men. The crisis ended with the Battle of Hastings on 14th October, 1066.

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.

Which contenders had claims on the throne of England after Edward the Confessor's death?

Four people had claims to the throne of England.

• ❖ Harold Godwinson.
• ❖ Edgar Aetheling.
• ❖ Harald Hardrada, who was supported by Tostig Godwinson.
• ❖ William, duke of Normandy.

Which contender to the throne in 1066 had the strongest claim?

The contenders for the throne in 1066 all claimed the throne through family relationships. These were either blood relationships, or through marriage or other agreements.

• ❖ Edgar Aetheling was Edward the Confessor's closest blood relative - his great-nephew. He was called the Aetheling, which was a name that indicated an heir apparent.
• ❖ Harold Godwinson was Edward the Confessor's brother-in-law. His sister, Edith, was married to Edward.
• ❖ William, Duke of Normandy, was related to Edward the Confessor through his great-aunt, Emma of Normandy, who was Edward's mother.
• ❖ Harald Hardrada inherited the claim to the throne through an agreement between Harthacnut and Magnus, which Harald claimed extended to him.

Which contender to the throne in 1066 one had the strongest army?

The contenders for the throne in 1066 were supported by varying degrees of 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.
• ❖ William had years of military experience. He had a strong, skilled army of at least 7,000 men, including archers and cavalry.
• ❖ Harald Hardrada had a strong fleet of about 300 ships, and could raise as many as 10,000 soldiers.
• ❖ 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.

Which contender to the throne did Edward the Confessor choose?

Edward the Confessor's choice of successor after his death was a point of disagreement between the contenders.

• ❖ 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.
• ❖ The Anglo-Saxons claimed that, on his deathbed, Edward promised the crown to Harold Godwinson.
• ❖ Edgar's name 'Aetheling' was an Anglo-Saxon word meaning 'heir', but as he was a child when Edward died, it was unlikely that Edward saw him as the next king.
• ❖ Harald Hardrada's claim bypassed Edward completely, and instead originated from King Harthacnut.

What alliances did the contenders to the throne have in 1066?

The contenders to the throne had important alliances 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.
• ❖ William had the support of the pope. He also claimed that Harold Godwinson had sworn to support his claim during his Normandy embassy of 1064.
• ❖ 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.

What nationality were the contenders to the throne in 1066?

Many of the Saxons disliked the idea of a foreign king. They had objected to the number of Normans that Edward had invited to England in the 1050s.

• ❖ Harold Godwinson and Edgar Aetheling were English.
• ❖ William, Duke of Normandy, was a Norman from a region of France.
• ❖ Harald Hardrada was the King of Norway.