Who should be King in 1066?

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.

The King is Dead ! 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!)

Who was the nearest blood relation to Edward the Confessor? 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?

Who was Tostig, Harold Godwinson’s, brother fighting along side with? Question 3: Who was Tostig, Harold Godwinson’s, brother fighting along side with?

Who was the most feared warrior in Europe? 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.

Who do you think had the STRONGEST claim to the Throne? Question 5 Who do you think had the STRONGEST claim to the Throne?

Who had the WEAKEST 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 Position: Link to Edward the Confessor: Support for his claim: Family: Tough enough? William of Normandy Position: Link to Edward the Confessor: Support for his claim: Family: Tough enough? Edgar Atheling Position: Link to Edward the Confessor: Support for his claim: Family: Tough enough? Harald Hardrada Position: Link to Edward the Confessor: Support for his claim: Family: Tough enough?

Harold Godwinson Harald Hadrada William of Normandy Edgar Atheling

Support for his claim: He was the only Englishman claiming the throne 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 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