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Edward the confessor and the succession crisis (Harold Godwinson (Harold…
Edward the confessor and the succession crisis
The house of Godwin
The Godwin family was the most powerful family in England and was even wealthier than King Edward
As Earls, Harold Godwinson and his brothers controlled much of the country by the early 1060s
Harold had a strong claim to the throne as the leading noblemen and soon put this forward on the death of Edward
Harold Godwinson
On his fathers death in 1053, Harold Godwinson became Earl of Wessex. His Brother Tostig became Earl of Northumbria in 1055
His sister, Edith Godwinson, was the wife of King Edward
The Godwinsons held much power in the Witan
Harold put down rebellions in Wales for King Edward and these successes brought Harold widespread support amount nobles and Church leaders
He made a 'Danish marriage' (no church ceremony) with Edith Swan-neck in 1045 and they had several children
Harold officially married Edith of Mercia around the time of the Norman invasion
It it thought that the marriage was political: it gave Harold a closer link with Mercia and would secure the support of Edith's brother , Morcar, Earl of Northumbria
Harold's embassy to Normandy, Tostig's actions
The Bayeux Tapestry shows Harold going to Normandy in 1064 to confirm Edward's promise of the English throne to William of Normandy
When Harold was captured by Guy of Ponthieu, he was freed from captivity by William. Later, Harold rescued some of Williams men in a battle
The tapestry shows Harold promising to help William win the throne on Edwards death. The breaking of the promise is also shown
Tostig
Tostig was one of Harold's brothers and became the Earl of Northumbria in 1055. As earl he brought stability to his province but was eventually critisised for his tyrannical rule
In October 1065 some nobles led by Edwin of Mercia and his brother Morcar, attacked Tostig and his supporters. King Edward banished Tostig and Morcar became the new Earl of Northumbria
Harold Godwinson supported Morcar, his brother-in- law and suggested that he would be more able to defend the North of England from Scottish invasion
Tostig saw his own brother support a rival and from this point the two brothers became sworn enemies. Tostig went into exile and with his supporters began to attack the east coast of England
The death of Edward the Confessor
Edward died on 5 January 1066
It is thought that on his deathbed Edward specified that Harold Godwinson look after the kingdom, thus giving Harold an even stronger claim to the throne
There was no witnesses to Edward's offer