Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Harold Godwinson Becomes King, 6th January 1066 (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Harold Godwinson's Coronation - Summary
The Witan chose Harold Godwinson as the King of England. Harold's coronation took place on 6th January 1066. This was on the same day as Edward the Confessor's funeral. The time between the king's death and the new king's coronation was usually months. Harold wanted the Witan to crown him quickly. He needed to seize the opportunity to become king before other claimants had the chance.
The quick coronation also benefited the English nobility. The earls of the Witan and the English thegns worried about the threats from Normandy and Scandinavia. By supporting Harold Godwinson, they believed that he would protect their interests.
Why did the Witan Choose Harold Godwinson?
When the deceased king had a son, he did not automatically become the next king
The Witan met to agree upon who should become the next King of England
The Witan's decision was influenced by:
If the king had a son
The military needs of the country
The interests of the earls who formed the Witan
The Witan was able to select Harold Godwinson quickly because:
The majority of the Witan had gathered at Edward's palace
Edward died just after Christmas
Many members of the Witan attended the opening of the new cathedral in Westminster on 28th December 1065
The Witan feared that William, Duke of Normandy would invade England
Selecting Harold quickly would allow the lords to prepare England's defences
The news of Harold's coronation made William furious
What Problems did Harold Godwinson Face as King?
Harold faced several challenges to his reign
Not all of the Anglo-Saxon earls supported Harold. As Earl of Wessex, Harold had annoyed the Earl of Mercia
Harold's brother, Tostig, had ruled Northumbria poorly. Harold needed to convince the Northumbrians to support his reign. Many Northumbrians were Anglo-Danish. They might have wanted the Viking king Harald Hardrada as King of England instead
Tostig had not forgiven his brother's betrayal. Tostig was in exile, travelling around Europe to form alliances against Harold
The Witan received reports that William, Duke of Normandy was building up his armed forces. He was preparing a fleet to set sail to England
Worked Example
Describe one feature of the problems that Harold Godwinson faced when he became king in 1066
2 marks
Answer:
One feature of the problems that faced Harold Godwinson as king was Northumbria (1). His brother Tostig had ruled Northumbria so poorly that he was overthrown in 1065. Harold needed the support of Northumbria to rule England (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Ensure you make your details as specific as possible to access all two marks. The detail in this example includes the date of the uprising against Earl Tostig.
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
Harold Godwinson's First Acts as King
Problems that Harold faced as king | Harold's actions |
|---|---|
The Earl of Mercia | Harold raised the biggest fleet and army that England had ever seen. He ensured all earls contributed to the fyrd. Mercia defeated Tostig's army, showing the earldom's loyalty to Harold |
Northumbria | Harold travelled to York. He met with members of the Witan who had not attended the meeting in London. He ensured that he had their support for his reign |
Tostig | Tostig, with support from his wife's family in Flanders, assembled an invasion force. He arrived in England in May 1066. Once Tostig discovered the size of Harold's army, he left. Tostig sailed to Lincoln and fought Mercia. He fled with only 12 ships to Scotland. He began talks with Harald Hardrada |
William, Duke of Normandy | Harold placed his army on the south coast for the whole summer at huge expense. William's army did not arrive. In September 1066, Harold stood down the army |
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