What qualities do
you think make a
good king?
Write down the MOST important quality a
King needs to be in order to be successful.
Then screw up your ball.
In January 1066,
Edward the Confessor,
king of England, died.
He was 62 years old.
With no children there
was no heir to the
throne. Four men
believed they should be
the next king, and they
were prepared to go to
war to get it!
Task
There were four main people who claimed they should be
King of England. Around the room there is four fact files
that contain information on these people. One person from
your group should go and read the information and try to
remember as much as you can. You should then fill out your
group fact file. Only one person can leave your table at a
time.
Push yourself: Once you have completed – you
must now decide who you think has the
STRONGEST claim to the throne. Give a reason
for your answer.
Push yourself further: Rank the claimants 1-4.
1 being STRONGEST claim and 4 being
WEAKEST. You must be able to explain your
decision.
Task
Take a good look at the features of each claimant.
You are now going to be tested on how much you can
remember. You should work in groups and discuss
your answers (quietly!)
Question 1:
Who was the
nearest blood
relation to Edward
the Confessor?
Question 2:
Which two people
claim to have been
promised the throne
by Edward the
Confessor?
Question 3:
Who was Tostig,
Harold Godwinson’s,
brother fighting
along side with?
Question 4:
Who was the most
feared warrior in
Europe?
The following
questions require you
to give YOUR
OPINION – You
MUST give a reason
for your answer.
Question 5
Who do you think
had the
STRONGEST
claim to the
Throne?
Question 6
Who had the
WEAKEST claim
to the Throne?
Radio Allitt!
You have 40 minutes to prepare
for the 6.00am news bulletin on
Radio 4 for which you are the
Chief Political Correspondent.
The news bulletin should be only
120 seconds duration and must
include the breaking news of
the sad death of King Edward.
Each group will be given time to do some extra research
with the ipads!
Core
• You must put forward your reasons why
you think your person should be King.
• You should also say what is wrong with
the other claimants.
Hard
• Use persuasive language!
• Include any RELEVANT additional
research (What did you find on the
ipad?)
Harder
• Argue against any claims made against
your claimant
• ‘E.g. Some people say that Edgar would
be a weak King, this is wrong because...’
Harold Godwinson
William of Normandy
Position:
Position:
Link to Edward the Confessor:
Link to Edward the Confessor:
Support for his claim:
Support for his claim:
Family:
Family:
Tough enough?
Tough enough?
Edgar Atheling
Harald Hardrada
Position:
Position:
Link to Edward the Confessor:
Link to Edward the Confessor:
Support for his claim:
Support for his claim:
Family:
Family:
Tough enough?
Tough enough?
Support for his claim: He was the only Englishman claiming the throne. The
Witan, a meeting of the most important bishops and Earls in England, wanted
Harold to be the next King. English monks wrote: ‘Harold and his brothers were the
King’s favourites. . On his deathbed that wise king promised the kingdom to
Harold.’
Support for his claim: Tostig, Harold Godwinson’s brother, supported Harald’s
claim. The two brothers had fallen out and Tostig wanted revenge.
Support for his claim: According to William of Poitiers, a Norman writer,
‘Edward, king of the English, loved William like a brother or son. . . So he decided
that William should be the next king.’ Harold Godwinson had visited William to tell
him this news in 1064 and promised to support William’s claim to the English crown.
Support for his claim: There was support for his claim as he was a member of
Edward the confessors family. However, he had spent his life in Hungary and was
not used to English ways.
Links to King Edward: BROTHER IN LAW
Harold’s sister Edith was married to King Edward.
Links to King Edward: NONE
However, a Viking called Canute had ruled Norway and England
from 1016 to 1035.
Links to King Edward: FORMER ALLY
Edward had lived in Normandy from 1016 to 1042. When Edward returned to
England to be King, William sent soldiers to help him. As a result King Edward had
promised William the throne in 1051.
Links to King Edward: GREAT NEPHEW
Edward was his Great Uncle.
Was he tough enough? Harold was a brave and respected soldier
with a tough streak. In 1063 King Edward sent Harold to crush a
Welsh uprising. The Welsh leader was caught and his head was cut
off on Harold’s orders.
Was he tough enough? He was the most feared warrior in Europe
– tough, bloodthirsty and he enjoyed watching his enemies suffer.
Hardrada means ‘hard ruler’ and his nickname was ‘the Ruthless’.
Was he tough enough? His nickname was William the Bastard because his father
wasn’t married to his mother. In 1047 people from the town of Alencon made fun
of his mother’s family. William captured the town and ordered that 30 of the
townsmen be skinned alive.
Was he tough enough? He was only 14 years old. He did not have
an understanding of England or Saxon ways as he had been
brought up in Hungary.
Family: His father, Godwin, argued a lot with King Edward. At one
time He and his father were banished (sent away from England)
from England but they returned a year later.
Family: He came from a fighting family. He had been in control of
Normandy since he was seven and was used to having to fight to
keep his lands
Family: He had fought alongside several Norwegian kings and had
taken part in raids on the English coast. When he became King of
Norway, he began a full-scale invasion of England.
Family: King Edward’s nearest blood relation.
Position: Earl of Wessex, one of the most powerful men in
England.
Position: King of Norway
Position: Duke of Normandy, the strongest part of France.
Position: Prince