starter activity

Portraits often tell us a lot about a person and their background. There is no known contemporary portrait of Edward the Confessor. Draw a quick sketch of what you think he looked like with any useful items. Then, read the account of Edward. Annotate your drawing to show the changes you need to make to reflect his true character. What are the problems with the accounts?

A thirteenth century image of Edward. How accurate do you think this image is?

Three claimants, Three claimants, one throne!one throne!

To study the strengths of the 3 To study the strengths of the 3 claimants to the English throne & claimants to the English throne &

To evaluate which king had the To evaluate which king had the stronger claimstronger claim

LOs

Key words: claimant witan hustings

What qualities does a medieval king need to have in order to be successful? How many of these qualities did Edward have? What qualities does a modern-day monarch need?

Edward the ConfessorEdward the Confessor Father, Aethelred the Father, Aethelred the

Unready, mother Unready, mother Emma of NormandyEmma of Normandy

Spoke French, brought Spoke French, brought up in Normandyup in Normandy

Deeply religiousDeeply religious Ruled with help of Ruled with help of

Godwin family Godwin family (married Edith (married Edith Godwin)Godwin)

Nominated Harold Nominated Harold Godwin as his heirGodwin as his heir

Edward on the Bayeux Tapestry

Your taskYour taskWork in groups of 3. Each take responsibility for a king Work in groups of 3. Each take responsibility for a king and record their strengths and weaknesses.and record their strengths and weaknesses.

Who had the strongest claim to the throne on paper?Who had the strongest claim to the throne on paper?

Who had the weakest claim?Who had the weakest claim?

Coin from the time of Edward the Confessor

ClaimantsClaimants StrengthsStrengths WeaknessesWeaknesses

William, Duke William, Duke of Normandyof Normandy

Harald Harald Hardrada, Hardrada,

King of King of VikingsVikings

Harold Harold Godwinson Godwinson

(Anglo-Saxon (Anglo-Saxon Earl)Earl)

William the Conqueror

Harald Harada

Harold Godwinson

What are the elements of a campaign hustings?

Your taskYour task

We are going to hold a We are going to hold a hustingshustings to to see who would be the best candidate see who would be the best candidate for the job of king of England. You for the job of king of England. You must come up withmust come up with

A campaign speechA campaign speech A flyerA flyer Rosettes with a winning sloganRosettes with a winning slogan A campaign song A campaign song

HomeworkHomework Write a campaign speech for either Harold Write a campaign speech for either Harold

Godwinson, Harald Hardrada or William the Godwinson, Harald Hardrada or William the

Conqueror. You Conqueror. You mustmust include the following: include the following: Explanation of why you are such a strong candidateExplanation of why you are such a strong candidate Explanation of why the other candidates are so Explanation of why the other candidates are so

poorpoor Use persuasive languageUse persuasive language

You You maymay wish to explain how you would improve wish to explain how you would improve life in Anglo-Saxon Britain and even create an life in Anglo-Saxon Britain and even create an election logo or sloganelection logo or slogan