The House of Godwin & Edward the Confessor (Edexcel GCSE History)

The House of Godwin and King Cnut - Summary

Before King Cnut's takeover of the English throne in 1016, Godwin had relatively little power in England. Historians believe that Godwin was the son of a thegn in Sussex. King Cnut favoured Godwin. Even though Godwin was not a Danish noble, Cnut believed he was faithful and honest. He made Godwin an earl in 1018 and bestowed the earldom of Wessex on Godwin in c1020. Between 1019 and 1023, Godwin fought alongside Cnut in expeditions to Denmark.

The legacy of Godwin lasted after Cnut died in 1035. Godwin established Wessex as the richest earldom in England. His power under Edward the Confessor grew. He became one of the most powerful men in England and created the house of Godwin.

Who were the Godwins?

• The House of Godwin were an important aristocratic family in Anglo-Saxon England

• Godwin was Earl of Wessex

  • Godwin had helped Edward the Confessor to become King of England

• Godwin died in 1053

  • He left the earldom of Wessex to his son, Harold Godwinson

    • As the son of Godwin, Harold's surname became Godwinson

  • Harold was not Godwin's only child

The family tree of the House of Godwin

The Godwins' Control of England

• After Godwin died in 1053, rival earls competed to gain Godwin's land

  • By the 1060s, the House of Godwin secured their power across England

Where did the House of Godwin Rule?

Why was the House of Godwin so Powerful?

• The Godwins owned a vast amount of land in England

  • Landholdings made the Godwins a lot of money

    • By the 1060s, the Godwins had nearly as much money as Edward the Confessor

  • Land also gave the Godwins a large number of thegns

    • The Godwins could raise a large fyrd under these thegns

  • The Godwins held key areas of England, which increased their importance

    • Wessex defended England from invasions and attacks from France

    • The earldom of Hereford was used to launch attacks on Wales

• Their earldoms also increased through political marriages

  • Godwin's daughter Edith was the wife of Edward the Confessor

  • Some historians claim that Harold had two wives

    • Danelaw allowed a man to marry twice 

  • Harold's first wife, Edith the Fair, had claims to large areas of land in East Anglia

    • There is debate among historians whether Edith was Harold's mistress or wife

  • In 1066, Harold married a different Edith. She was the widow of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, the King of Wales

    • This gave Harold influence over Wales

The Godwins, Mercia and Wales

• The Godwins' power was not uncontested. Two of their biggest rivals were:

  • Aelfgar, the Earl of Mercia

  • Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, the King of Wales

How did Mercia Threaten the Power of the House of Godwin?

• The earldom of Mercia fell between the earldoms of Northumbria and Wessex. 

• Aelfgar profited from Godwin's exile in 1051

  • Edward gave Aelfgar the earldom of East Anglia

  • Edward forced Aelfgar to return the earldom to Godwin in 1052

  • Aelfgar continued to fight for the control of East Anglia in the 1060s

• Mercia bordered Wales

  • Aelfgar formed an alliance with Llywelyn, the King of Wales

    • This caused Edward to exile Aelfgar twice in the 1050s

How did Wales Threaten the Power of the House of Godwin

• Llywelyn was very powerful

  • Llywelyn brought the whole kingdom of Wales under his control in 1055

• In 1055, Llywelyn fought alongside Aelfgar against Edward the Confessor

  • Aelfgar was the house of Godwin's biggest threat

  • Llywelyn's involvement in the failed attack made Llywelyn an enemy of the Godwins

• In 1062, Aelfgar died

  • Aelfgar's death left Llywelyn vulnerable to the house of Godwin

    • Harold sailed to South Wales and Tostig marched an army to North Wales

  • The Godwins' armies killed Llywelyn

    • Harold sent Llywelyn's head to Edward

    • Harold chose the new King of Wales to ensure they were loyal to him

Why did Edward the Confessor's Connection to Normandy Affect the Godwins?

• There was an uneasy relationship between Edward and the Godwins throughout his reign

The Godwins' Relationship with Edward the Confessor

How was Edward Connected to Normandy?

• Normandy was an independent dukedom in c1060

  • Normandy fought against France and counties like Brittany

• Edward had a close link to Normandy because:

  • His mother was from Normandy

  • Vikings seized his father's throne and exiled Edward and his family to Normandy in 1016

  • Edward lived in exile in Normandy for 25 years

• Edward continued his connection with Normandy after he became king in 1042

  • He brought Norman friends into the royal court

Why did Edward's Connection with Normandy Annoy the Godwins?

• In 1042, Edward appointed some Norman aristocrats to key positions in England

  • Robert, abbot of Jumièges, became the bishop of London in 1043

• The appointments of Normans angered English earls like Godwin

  • The earls did not like their power being taken away by Normans

  • It led to Godwin's defiance of the king and his exile in 1050

Harold's Embassy to Normandy

• Harold's embassy to Normandy in c1064 on Edward's behalf was controversial

The Interpretations of Harold's Embassy to Normandy

Why was Harold's Embassy to Normandy Important?

• Edward trusted Harold on important missions

  • Whether to collect hostages or to discuss the English succession, the purpose of the trip was important

• The embassy shows the close relationship between England and Normandy

  • Edward could send advisers to William knowing that they would be protected

• Harold gained a reputation as an oath-breaker

  • Oaths played an important role in the eleventh century

  • The incident was used against Harold in 1066