Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
The Death of Edward the Confessor (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Important was Edward the Confessor's Reign? - Summary
Edward the Confessor is controversial to modern historians. Some historians credit Edward for bringing stability to the kingdom. Most of England remained loyal to Edward and there was very little conflict between England and the kingdoms of Wales and Scotland. England admired and respected Edward as a pious, peacekeeping king.
Other historians believe that Edward was a bad king. He was not a warrior king like previous Anglo-Saxon monarchs. This meant that Edward became reliant on his earls to enforce his power across England. Earls like Harold Godwinson became increasingly dominant. This created a power imbalance between the king and his earls.
The fundamental issue with Edward's reign is that he did not have any children. 1066 became a year of leadership challenges and marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule of England.
What Caused the Death of Edward the Confessor?
Edward was unwell in 1065
During the uprising against Tostig in October 1065, Edward's health was in decline
The stress of his earls not listening to his demands may have caused Edward to have a series of strokes
Edward was roughly 63 years old when he died on 5th January 1066
His body was buried in Westminster Abbey
Edward was too ill to celebrate the completion of Westminster Abbey on 28th December
Why did Edward the Confessor's Death Cause a Succession Crisis?
When Edward died, it was not clear who would become the next King of England
Reason for the succession crisis | Why did this cause a succession crisis? |
Edward and his wife Edith did not have any children | Edward had not produced an heir to the throne. This meant that there was no direct family member to become the next king |
Several people had claims to the English throne | There was a lot of competition from nobles in England and abroad. The Witan needed to decide who had the best claim |
Some sources reported that Edward said to Harold 'I commend this woman [Edith] with all the kingdom to your protection' | Harold interpreted Edward's statement to mean that he was the next King of England. Edith was Harold's sister. This evidence did not stop other claimants to the throne |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question may ask you how far you agree that Edward's lack of an heir caused the succession crisis in England. When approaching this style of question, consider:
The extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement. Use words like 'partially' or 'fully' to explain this
The strength of both sides of the argument. A lack of an heir was vital to why it was unknown who would be king in 1066. However, having multiple people with claims to the throne only increased this issue
Concluding your thoughts with a reflection on key concepts. You should consider short- and long-term consequences, importance and impact. For example, Edward not producing an heir created the opportunity for multiple people to claim to be the next king of England. You could argue that this is the most important reason because it had long-term consequences for England
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