Power Struggles

Cnut's reign ended with his death in 1035, and for the next 30 years numerous rivals schemed for the crown of England. Cnut had left three sons: Harthacnut (by Emma, widow of Æthelred), and Sweyn and Harold (by another wife). Emma also had two other sons by Æthelred, and there was also competition between the great English earls as to who should succeed. Emma campaigned for her sons in Normandy; one of them came to England, where he was attacked, blinded and later died. In the end Harold became king but he died in 1040. Harthacnut took over but died in 1042. There were now no more Danish kings of England. Edward, son of Æthelred the Unready, came from Normandy to take the throne.

Edward was more Norman than English in background and habits, and he brought with him a group of Norman advisors. This caused much resentment and jealousy amongst the English nobles, and even the marriage of Edward to Earl Godwin of Wessex's daughter did not bring peace. However, many people respected Edward even though he was not a strong ruler. In 1053 Earl Godwin died and his son Harold became Earl of Wessex. Harold, like his father, disliked Edward and did not respect his rule.

Edward was very religious, and because of his liking for confessing his sins he was nicknamed "The Confessor". Edward's marriage produced no heirs and once again no-one knew who would succeed to the throne. The man holding the power in England was Harold, Earl of Wessex but William, a Norman noble, also laid claim to the throne, among other contenders.

Both William and Harold appeared to have a valid claim to the throne. Harold was the most powerful English earl; he had the support of the Whitan (the Anglo-Saxon parliament) and he was said to have been named by Edward as his successor in the year that he died (there is even a scene in the Bayeux Tapestry which appears to depict this event). William was the son of Duke Robert of Normandy; he had the support of the Church in Rome and also claimed that Edward had named him as heir.

[Original author: Miranda Greene, 2005]