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Information file (for use in Stage 1)

1. Harold Earl of Wessex thought he should be King as he was Edward the Confessor's brother in law, and the only Englishman claiming the throne.

2. William, Duke of Normandy, was Edward's cousin.

3. Edward had fled to Normandy in 1016 when the Viking King Cnut invaded England and seized the throne, and had stayed there until he became King in 1042.

4. English sources say that, although Harold swore an oath agreeing that William would be King, the oath counted for nothing. Harold asked King Edward's permission to go to Normandy to set free his nephew who was being held there as a hostage. William is said to have told Harold that Edward had promised him, William, the throne. He could have his nephew only if he swore an oath on holy relics agreeing to William becoming King.

5. The Viking, Harald Haadraada, King of Norway, felt he should be King as many Vikings had settled in England, and Vikings had ruled England from 1016 to 1042.

6. When Edward became King in 1042 he relied upon William's help to protect his throne from Viking attacks and also from the powerful Earls of Wessex.

7. King Cnut's son, Harthacanute, King from 1040 to 1042, had actually promised the throne to Harold Hardraada's father, but he had died.

8. Edward's mother was Norman.

9. In his old age Edward left most of the business of governing England to Harold, and he is said to have ruled well.

10. Norman sources claim that Edward's promise of the throne to Harold on his deathbed does not count as the King was no longer able to think clearly and he was just warned about a possible Viking invasion to seize the throne. After all, if this happened, a leader would be needed quickly and William was in Normandy.

11. Norman sources claim that Edward, who loved William like a son, was so pleased with him in 1051 that he promised him the throne.

12. Harold's family was the most powerful in England; they controlled Wessex and wanted to rule England.

13. William's soldiers defeated Harold, Earl of Wessex's rebellion against Edward in 1051

14. Although Harold was driven out of England after his rebellion against Edward failed in 1051, he returned in 1052 and quickly became the most powerful nobleman in the country and the commander of Edward's army.

15. Norman sources say that in 1064, just two years before he died, Edward decided to make certain that William would be the next King of England. He sent Harold to William so that he could swear an oath that William would be the next King. As a great English noble, Harold would have to support William if there was any trouble when King Edward died.
    

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