1. Today’s Learning Muscle
Year 9 GCSE History
Lesson june
Claiming the Throne
Learning Gain: All learners will explore the rival claims for the English throne.
Today we will:
Today’s Learning Muscle
Research the individuals with claims to the throne.
Evaluate the strength of different claims.
Explore the decision made regarding Edward’s successor.

2. Who got to decide
who the next king
should be?

3. Edward died on 5 January, He had no children at the time, therefore there was a succession crisis.
(Succession simply means the process that decides who should be the next king or queen and ‘succeed’ the throne.)
Sources, like the Bayeux Tapestry above, suggest that upon his death, Edward passed protection of England on to Harold Godwinson.
However, Harold had competition from many other claims.

4. In groups of three or four,
Group Task
In groups of three or four,
research and evaluate the strength of one of the rival claims to the throne.
Name of Claimant
Claim (why does he think he should be king?)
Strength of claim
Chance of Success
Could use text only (not tables) from p.26 & 27 or laptops to compile research.

5. Claimant
Reason for Claim
Strength of Claim
Chance of Success
Harold Godwinson
Worked closely with the king.
-Was the king’s brother in law.
Member of the House of Godwin
Had been promised the throne by Edward
Strong claim – trusted by the previous king. Relative through marriage. King’s word = very important.
Very high chance.
Edgar Aethling
Edward’s nephew – this meant he had royal blood.
He was the heir to the throne.
Strong claim – related to the previous king and an heir is based on royal blood.
Not the most powerful person.
Lack of experience – only a teenager when Edward died.
Moderate chance of success.
Harald Hardrada
Had a secret deal to claim the English throne.
He was a Viking warrior king who thought he could successfully invade and take the throne.
Weak claim as it was a secret deal.
He would need to invade in order to take power.
Low chance of success as he’d need to invade.
William of Normandy
Had an agreement with Edward that he would get the throne upon Edward’s death.
Strong claim as it was a confirmed promise from the king. (confirmed in 1064)
High, although he’d need to invade England from Normandy.

6. Explain two factors that linked together to cause this crisis.
Main Task
How would Edgar Aethling – the only claimant with royal blood – have felt about the idea of other people claiming the throne?
Multi-structural
Explain two factors that linked together to cause this crisis.
Relational
How do you think this crisis would have been solved? Predict the next steps for Anglo-Saxon England after Edward’s death.
Extended - Abstract

7. Plenary
The Witan chose Harold Godwinson to be Edward’s successor. What problems would he face?
Godwinson’s coronation was just one day after Edward’s death.