The succession crisis, 1066 (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
The succession crisis, 1066
What was the succession crisis?
When King Edward the Confessor died in January 1066, England faced a major problem - it wasn't clear who should become the next king. This uncertainty created what historians call the succession crisis of 1066, which ultimately led to the Norman Conquest and changed English history forever.
The crisis happened because England's complicated political history had created multiple people who believed they had legitimate claims to the throne. To understand why this crisis was so significant, we need to look at England's situation in 1065 and what made it such an attractive prize for potential rulers.
The succession crisis of 1066 was not just a simple dispute over who should be king. It represented a pivotal moment where the future of mediaeval Europe was decided, as the outcome would determine whether England remained Anglo-Saxon or became part of the Norman sphere of influence.
England in 1065: a unified and wealthy kingdom
Edward the Confessor's reign
Edward the Confessor had ruled England since 1042, bringing stability after years of Viking control. However, Edward was known more as a religious man than a strong political leader. He was pious and devoted much of his energy to the Church, leaving much of the day-to-day running of the kingdom to his advisors, known as the Witan.
The administrative structure
England had developed an efficient system of government by 1065. The country was divided into regions, each governed by powerful nobles called earls. These earls had enormous responsibilities - they collected taxes, ran law courts, and raised armies for the king. The most powerful earls essentially acted as the king's deputies in their regions.
This system made England easier to govern than many other European kingdoms, but it also meant that certain families, particularly the Godwins, had built up enormous power that could challenge the king himself.
The concentration of power in the hands of a few earl families, especially the Godwins, created a dangerous situation where these nobles could potentially challenge royal authority. This would prove crucial in the succession crisis.
Why England was such an attractive prize
Agricultural wealth
England's economy was built on agriculture, and the country's fertile farmland produced abundant crops. Farmers grew wheat, rye, barley, and oats, while also raising livestock for meat, cheese, and leather. This agricultural foundation provided a steady source of wealth and food security.
Natural resources and trade
England possessed valuable natural resources including timber, iron, lead, and copper, which were essential for building and warfare. However, the most important trade was in wool - English woollen cloth was highly valued across Europe and brought significant wealth to the kingdom.
During the Anglo-Saxon period, England had become an important trading nation, exporting food, raw materials, and leather goods. This trade network meant that controlling England would give access to valuable commercial relationships across Europe.
Strong royal administration
Unlike many European kingdoms, England had developed an efficient system for collecting taxes and maintaining royal authority. This meant that whoever became king would inherit a kingdom that could actually generate wealth and maintain order - a much more attractive prospect than ruling over a chaotic, poverty-stricken land.
What Made England So Valuable:
- Rich agricultural land providing food security and wealth
- Valuable natural resources, especially timber and metals
- Highly profitable wool trade with Europe
- Efficient tax collection and administrative systems
- Strategic location for European trade networks
External threats to England
The Viking threat
Vikings had been raiding England since the 8th century, attracted by its wealth. The most serious Viking invasions came in 1013 and 1016, when Svein Forkbeard and then his son Cnut successfully conquered England. Although Cnut's sons lost control of England in 1042, the Vikings still saw the kingdom as a valuable prize worth fighting for.
Significantly, Cnut had defeated Aethelred (Edward the Confessor's father), demonstrating that England could be successfully invaded and conquered by determined foreign rulers.
The Viking conquests of 1013 and 1016 proved that England, despite its wealth and organisation, was not invincible. This precedent encouraged other foreign rulers to believe they too could successfully invade and conquer the kingdom.
The Norman connection
The Norman threat was more complex and personal. Edward the Confessor had been raised in the Norman court during his exile and had maintained good relationships with Norman rulers throughout his reign. When he became King of England, he kept these connections, which some Normans interpreted as promises about the English succession.
After Edward's death, the Duke of Normandy would claim that Edward had promised him the English throne, creating another powerful claimant in the succession crisis.
Internal threats: the power of the Godwins
The Godwin family's dominance
The most powerful family in England was the Godwins, led by the Earl of Wessex. They controlled vast territories and had enormous influence over English politics. Their power was so great that they effectively rivalled the king himself.
The 1051 crisis
The Godwins' power became clear in 1051 when they rebelled against Edward. The earls of Northumbria and Mercia supported Edward, and the Godwin family was forced into exile. However, this victory was temporary.
The 1051 Godwin Rebellion: A Display of Noble Power
Step 1: The Godwins opposed Edward's policies and appointments Step 2: They gathered their forces and challenged the king directly Step 3: Other earls supported Edward, forcing the Godwins into exile Step 4: However, the Godwins' wealth and influence meant they could return
This episode demonstrated that even the king could be challenged by powerful noble families.
Return and reconciliation
The Witan (Edward's council of advisors) encouraged Edward to recall the Godwins, recognising their importance to English politics. When the Godwin family returned to England, Edward made Harold Godwinson his sub-regulus (effectively his deputy), showing just how powerful this family had become.
This reconciliation meant that by 1066, Harold Godwinson was the most powerful man in England after the king, positioning him as a natural candidate for the throne when Edward died.
Harold Godwinson's position as sub-regulus made him the most likely successor to Edward the Confessor. However, this internal English solution to the succession would be challenged by foreign claimants who had their own justifications for claiming the throne.
The crisis unfolds
When Edward the Confessor died without a clear heir in January 1066, multiple claimants emerged, each with different justifications for their claims. The powerful position England held - with its wealth, efficient government, and strategic location - made it a prize worth fighting for.
The fact that the Normans, Vikings, and various English nobles had all wanted control of the English throne for years meant that Edward's death would inevitably trigger a major conflict. The succession crisis of 1066 was therefore not just about who should be king, but about which foreign power would control one of mediaeval Europe's most valuable kingdoms.
The Inevitable Conflict
The succession crisis was not an accident but the result of years of building tensions. England's wealth and importance meant that multiple rulers had developed interests in controlling it, making conflict unavoidable when Edward died without a clear successor.
Timeline of key events
- 1013: Svein Forkbeard invades England
- 1016: Cnut conquers England, defeats Aethelred
- 1042: Edward the Confessor becomes King of England
- 1051: Godwin family rebels against Edward and is exiled
- 1052: Godwin family returns, Harold becomes sub-regulus
- January 1066: Edward the Confessor dies, succession crisis begins
Key Points to Remember:
- The succession crisis happened because Edward the Confessor died without a clear heir, creating multiple claimants to the throne
- England was an attractive prize due to its agricultural wealth, valuable trade (especially wool), efficient administration, and strategic position
- External threats came from Vikings (who had successfully conquered England before) and Normans (who had family connections to Edward)
- Internal power struggles centred on the Godwin family, who had become so powerful they effectively rivalled the king
- The crisis was inevitable because England's wealth and importance meant multiple rulers wanted to control it