Year 7 · History · The Norman Conquest · Lesson 1

1066: who should be king?

The succession crisis of 1066: Edward the Confessor's death and the claims of Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada and Edgar Ætheling.

17-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

Explain why 1066 was a crisis
Describe the four claimants
Recognise bias in sources
Make a judgement with reasons

The method

Who.
Claim.
Strength.
Judgement.

Key words: 1066, succession, claimant, Witan, Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

When did Edward the Confessor die?

Step 1: 1066

Answer: 5 January 1066

Question 2

Why was there no obvious heir?

Step 1: Children

Answer: Edward had no children

Question 3

How many main claimants were there?

Step 1: Count

Answer: four