- Harold Godwinson was the Earl of Wessex at the time, and this made him the most powerful nobleman in England and the only Englishman claiming the throne, except for a relative called Edgar who was only eight and was not seriously considered for the throne for obvious reasons.
- Harald Hadraada’s main claim was that Cnut’s son promised his father the throne and that he was a descendant of King Cnut, a former king of England. He also felt that he might get some support from Viking families in the North of England.
- William was Edward’s cousin and was promised the throne by him, and he had helped Edward in the past. William was Duke of Normandy.
1) Why did England need a new king?
2) Why was there no direct heir to the throne?
3) Who were the three men who had claimed to the English throne?
4) What roles did the three men have in their countries?
5) What is a ‘claimant’?
http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/year7links/conquest_worksheets.shtml
