Claimants to the Throne, 1066 (AQA GCSE History)

Summary

Edward the Confessor did not have any children, leaving no obvious heir. When he died on the 5th of January 1066, four men believed they had a claim to be the next King of England; 

• Harold, Godwinson Earl of Wessex who was Edward’s brother-in-law

• William, Duke of Normandy who was Edward’s cousin

• Harald Hardrada, King of Norway 

• Edgar Atheling, Edward’s great-nephew

Each claim had its strengths and weaknesses. Two claimants, Harold Godwinson and Edgar Atheling, were present in England when Edward died. Harold Godwinson won the support of the Witan. He was coronated on 6th January 1066. This did not prevent the other claimants from continuing to fight for the throne. 

Harold Godwinson’s claim to the throne

• As the Earl of Wessex, Harold Godwinson controlled the most important earldom 

  • Godwinson had the greatest military strength of any of the earls

  • He had a strong influence over the other earls and thegns

  • This gave him power over the Witan

• As Edward’s health began to fail, Harold had helped run the country as sub-regulus or deputy king since 1060

• Harold’s sister, Edith, was married to Edward - making him the king’s brother-in-law

• He claimed that Edward had promised him the throne from his deathbed - known as a navissima verba

• As he was the most powerful English earl, his claim also received the support of many English nobles and other earls

Edgar the Atheling's claim to the throne

• Edgar was Edward the Confessor’s great-nephew and the closest blood relation to the King to claim the throne

  • He was seen by many as Edward's adopted son and ‘ætheling’ is the Anglo-Saxon term for ‘prince’

• Many of the earls saw Edgar as the true Anglo-Saxon claimant and gave him their support

• Other earls felt that Edgar was too young (in his teens) and would not be an effective military leader

• Edgar also had no powerful relatives who would support him

Harald Hardrada’s claim to the throne

• Hardrada was the Viking King of Norway

  • His claim to the English Throne centred around his relationship to Cnut - who had ruled England between 1016 and 1035

  • Hardrada believed the English Throne had been promised to his father Magnus by Cnut’s son - Harthacnut in 1042

  • Edward the Confessor became King instead but Hardrada still believed the English Crown was his birthright

• Hardrada was a fearsome and highly experienced warrior with a powerful army

  • In his youth, he had travelled east and served in the Byzantine Empire’s elite Varangian Guard

  • By 1066, he had been King of Norway for 20 years and earned the name Hardrada - or hard ruler - for the way he settled he settled disputes

• Hardrada believed that the many people in England who had Viking origins would support his claim

  • He also had the support of Tostig Godwinson who had been sacked as Earl of Northumbria by his brother Harold

    • Tostig was willing to betray his brother Harold Godwinson to regain power and influence

  • He was a harsh and unpopular leader 

    • The nobles of Northumbria had launched a rebellion against Tostig in 1065

  • Harold persuaded King Edward to agree to the Northumbrian demands and remove Tostig as Earl

William, Duke of Normandy’s claim to the throne

• William was a distant cousin of Edward the Confessor through Edward’s mother, Emma of Normandy

  • However, William was also illegitimate and therefore his blood connection was ruled invalid

• William claimed that Edward had promised him the English Throne in return for his help in suppressing the Godwin rebellion in 1051

  • According to Norman customs, the post obitum could not be undone or overruled once it had been made

• William also claimed that Harold Godwinson had sworn to support William’s claim to the Throne when Harold visited Normandy in 1064

  • The oath was said to have been made over a holy relic which made it binding according to religious beliefs

  • Harold claimed he was effectively a prisoner whilst in Normandy and therefore the oath was invalid

Who did the Witan choose to be king?

• Being in England at the time of Edward’s death meant that Harold Godwinson and Edgar the Aetheling were best placed to advance their claims for the throne

  • However, unlike Edgar, Harold was a respected military leader 

  • Harold had also proved his effectiveness as a leader having ruled England during Edward’s sickness 

• Harold moved quickly and, with the support of the important nobles of the Witan, he was crowned King on the very day after Edward’s death

  • Shortly after, Harold married Ealdgyth - the sister of the powerful Earls of Northumbria and Mercia - in recognition of their support