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Year 10 - History

Edward the Confessor, the Godwins and William of Normandy

British Depth Study: Norman England, c1066–c1100

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils study an aspect of British medieval history in depth. They learn about the social, economic, religious and political events that influenced the lives of those who lived in this period.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain why William of Normandy had a claim to the English throne.

Key Notes

  • After years in exile in Normandy, Edward the Confessor's position as king was weak; he relied on Earl Godwin's support.
  • In 1051 the Godwins were exiled after tensions over Edward's Norman advisers.
  • After threatening to invade, the Godwins returned to positions of power.
  • Edward relied more and more on the Godwins, whose power increased.
  • In a trip to Normandy in 1064, Harold Godwin made promises to William, Duke of Normandy.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • exile: exile is when someone is sent away from their home country
  • adviser: an Anglo-Saxon adviser was a high-ranking noble who gave advice to the monarch, such as an earl or bishop
  • successor: a successor is a person expected to inherit the throne after the monarch has died
  • House: a House refers to a dynasty, a group of leaders or rulers from the same family
  • chronicler: a chronicler is someone who writes a record of historical events

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • An Anglo-Saxon monarch had all the power.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

After years in exile in Normandy, Edward the Confessor's position as king was weak; he relied on Earl Godwin's support. In 1051 the Godwins were exiled after tensions over Edward's Norman advisers.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'exile'

exile is when someone is sent away from their home country.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: An Anglo-Saxon monarch had all the power. Correction: In fact, Anglo-Saxon nobles could force their monarchs to do things they did not want to do. For example, King Edward was forced to allow the House of Godwin back from exile and restore them to their earldoms.

More Lessons In This Unit

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