BRITAIN HISTORY 20 MARKER EXAM
QUESTIONS
Topic 1 - Anglo-Saxon England
✔ How successfully did Edward the Confessor rule England?
Assertion: Ineffective/unsuccessful due to no heir, lack of military prowess and failure to deal
with Godwins. Godwins most important reason.
Dealing with Earls (Godwins):
Godwins ruled most of England:
- By 1050, Swegn’s earldoms included Hereford, Gloucester, Oxford, Berkshire and
Somerset.
- Harold was appointed as Earl of East Anglia in 1045.
- Godwin’s nephew Beorn Estrithson was given an earldom in the east midlands.
- Harold also acted as sub-regulus at the end of Edward’s reign and became so powerful
he became heir.
- Shows inability of Edward to stop increasing Godwin power
Can be seen to exercise authority when exiling the Godwin’s in 1051.
Showed weak leadership in the aftermath of the Dover Fracas:
- Initially exiled in 1051 for disobeying Edward’s orders
- 1052: Godwin and Harold raised fleet and sailed up the Thames
- Edward’s army refused to fight and the Godwins were restored
- Undermines the authority of Edward
- Swegn seduced the abbess of Leominster in 1046 and murdered Beorn in 1049. He
was exiled for both offences but Godwin secured his recall and restoration as an earl.
The power of the Godwin family was immense and it is believed that the total worth of their
lands mounted to £7,500, more than that of Edward himself.
Godwin power is most important because it caused the succession crisis and is the main reason
behind Edward’s military weakness.
Military:
,There was some military success:
- Peace for 22 year reign
- Avoided attacks from Godwins and Vikings
- Danegeld was effective but unpopular
However, many military duties carried out by Godwins most clearly seen in Wales:
- Harold led an army against Gruffydd and refortified Hereford in 1055.
- Decisively beat Gruffydd with help from Tostig after he invaded Worcestershire in
1063.
- Edward was not involved, reliant upon Godwins which shows weakness
Overall, Edward is effective because he maintains peace and doesn’t experience a serious
military threat in his reign.
However, he owes this to the Godwins making them a more important factor in his kingship.
Succession:
Had no heir; shows he is ineffective because he created instability after his death.
However, Norman succession plan:
- William promised throne by Edward
- Sworn to by Harold according to Norman chronicles
No clear heir after alleged deathbed promise to Harold:
- Harold forced change of heart for Edward
- Created disputed succession
Power of Godwins can be seen as the main contributing factor behind the succession crisis.
Domestic Governance
Nationwide Royal Mints produced standard coinage and every year the coins from the mints
would be collected together and destroyed, and then replaced with an entirely new batch of
coins. This kind of organisation was a first for England and was far more advanced than rival
powers of the time, demonstrating Edward’s ability to lead England to financial stability.
Funded the construction of Westminster Abbey, consecrated in 1065. This was the first
Norman Romanesque church and catalysed a new era of church architecture in England.
, Edward also made the decision to appoint Robert of Jumieges as Archbishop of Canterbury in
1051 to implement Edward’s pious ideals onto the church.
Appointment of Stigand as Archbishop just one year after the appointment of Robert, who had
fled. Stigand was corrupt and used his position to increase his own wealth as well as that of
his friends and family, while there is little evidence that he enriched either Canterbury or
Winchester, his two bishoprics. Given that Robert only fled after coming into conflict with
Godwin, this once again showed that Edward lacked the superseding power over him that
would be expected of a king.
Godwins undermine success
✔ Assess the reasons for the succession crisis
Assertion: Godwins most influential reason
Godwins:
Norman Succession plan flawed due to inevitability of Godwin succession:
- crowned himself one day after Edward’s
- William’s visit in 1051 caused tension amongst Witan
- Harold acted as sub-regulus
- De facto military leader
- Witan wanted Saxon King
- Alleged promise from Edward
You could argue the only reason Godwin became King was because there was no heir.
Power of the Godwins undermined the foundation of the Norman succession plan.
No heir:
No primogeniture meant there was no obvious successor:
- Died with no heir
- Closest family relative was a 15 year old, Edgar Aetheling
- Created instability and a power vacuum from which three claimants emerged
- 3 powerful men all believed they had a legitimate claim and were ready to fight in
England for the crown
However, Edward appointed an heir in William of Normandy on his visit to England in 1051.
Norman succession plan was created
Succession crisis caused by Edward’s promise to Harold after designating William as heir.
Power of Scandinavia:
QUESTIONS
Topic 1 - Anglo-Saxon England
✔ How successfully did Edward the Confessor rule England?
Assertion: Ineffective/unsuccessful due to no heir, lack of military prowess and failure to deal
with Godwins. Godwins most important reason.
Dealing with Earls (Godwins):
Godwins ruled most of England:
- By 1050, Swegn’s earldoms included Hereford, Gloucester, Oxford, Berkshire and
Somerset.
- Harold was appointed as Earl of East Anglia in 1045.
- Godwin’s nephew Beorn Estrithson was given an earldom in the east midlands.
- Harold also acted as sub-regulus at the end of Edward’s reign and became so powerful
he became heir.
- Shows inability of Edward to stop increasing Godwin power
Can be seen to exercise authority when exiling the Godwin’s in 1051.
Showed weak leadership in the aftermath of the Dover Fracas:
- Initially exiled in 1051 for disobeying Edward’s orders
- 1052: Godwin and Harold raised fleet and sailed up the Thames
- Edward’s army refused to fight and the Godwins were restored
- Undermines the authority of Edward
- Swegn seduced the abbess of Leominster in 1046 and murdered Beorn in 1049. He
was exiled for both offences but Godwin secured his recall and restoration as an earl.
The power of the Godwin family was immense and it is believed that the total worth of their
lands mounted to £7,500, more than that of Edward himself.
Godwin power is most important because it caused the succession crisis and is the main reason
behind Edward’s military weakness.
Military:
,There was some military success:
- Peace for 22 year reign
- Avoided attacks from Godwins and Vikings
- Danegeld was effective but unpopular
However, many military duties carried out by Godwins most clearly seen in Wales:
- Harold led an army against Gruffydd and refortified Hereford in 1055.
- Decisively beat Gruffydd with help from Tostig after he invaded Worcestershire in
1063.
- Edward was not involved, reliant upon Godwins which shows weakness
Overall, Edward is effective because he maintains peace and doesn’t experience a serious
military threat in his reign.
However, he owes this to the Godwins making them a more important factor in his kingship.
Succession:
Had no heir; shows he is ineffective because he created instability after his death.
However, Norman succession plan:
- William promised throne by Edward
- Sworn to by Harold according to Norman chronicles
No clear heir after alleged deathbed promise to Harold:
- Harold forced change of heart for Edward
- Created disputed succession
Power of Godwins can be seen as the main contributing factor behind the succession crisis.
Domestic Governance
Nationwide Royal Mints produced standard coinage and every year the coins from the mints
would be collected together and destroyed, and then replaced with an entirely new batch of
coins. This kind of organisation was a first for England and was far more advanced than rival
powers of the time, demonstrating Edward’s ability to lead England to financial stability.
Funded the construction of Westminster Abbey, consecrated in 1065. This was the first
Norman Romanesque church and catalysed a new era of church architecture in England.
, Edward also made the decision to appoint Robert of Jumieges as Archbishop of Canterbury in
1051 to implement Edward’s pious ideals onto the church.
Appointment of Stigand as Archbishop just one year after the appointment of Robert, who had
fled. Stigand was corrupt and used his position to increase his own wealth as well as that of
his friends and family, while there is little evidence that he enriched either Canterbury or
Winchester, his two bishoprics. Given that Robert only fled after coming into conflict with
Godwin, this once again showed that Edward lacked the superseding power over him that
would be expected of a king.
Godwins undermine success
✔ Assess the reasons for the succession crisis
Assertion: Godwins most influential reason
Godwins:
Norman Succession plan flawed due to inevitability of Godwin succession:
- crowned himself one day after Edward’s
- William’s visit in 1051 caused tension amongst Witan
- Harold acted as sub-regulus
- De facto military leader
- Witan wanted Saxon King
- Alleged promise from Edward
You could argue the only reason Godwin became King was because there was no heir.
Power of the Godwins undermined the foundation of the Norman succession plan.
No heir:
No primogeniture meant there was no obvious successor:
- Died with no heir
- Closest family relative was a 15 year old, Edgar Aetheling
- Created instability and a power vacuum from which three claimants emerged
- 3 powerful men all believed they had a legitimate claim and were ready to fight in
England for the crown
However, Edward appointed an heir in William of Normandy on his visit to England in 1051.
Norman succession plan was created
Succession crisis caused by Edward’s promise to Harold after designating William as heir.
Power of Scandinavia:
