How powerful was the House of Godwin? - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

How powerful was the House of Godwin?

Starter:

Complete the ‘What do you do’ sheet below. Use your knowledge the Anglo-Saxon legal system to help you!Slide2

Who were the

Godwins

?

When Cnut became king in 1018, he made his favourite advisers earls. One of these men was Godwin, who became Earl of Wessex.

Godwin was a son of an Anglo-Saxon

thegn, but through clever political manoeuvring managed to become a very important advisor to King Cnut.When he helped Edward become king in 1042, Godwin allowed his daughter to marry the king which increased his power and influence in the kingdom.By 1045, Godwin was the most powerful man in the kingdom. He was running Edward’s kingdom for him Godwin had several sons including Sweyn, Harold, Tostig, Gyrth and Leofwine – all of which held power in England.When Godwin died in 1053 he was succeeded by his son Harold.Slide3

Harold showed himself as an excellent warrior and military leader during campaigns in Wales in 1056.It allowed him to show himself as a politician as well as a soldier

Instead of fighting, he negotiated a treaty that gave the Welsh some land in return for them pulling out of Herefordshire.The Welsh continued to raid and attack the border, so in December 1062 Harold decided to attack.

He put together a special unit of elite soldiers and tasked his brother

Tostig

with leading them by foot into Wales. At the same time, Harold would sail with a fleet to attack the coast.

The Welsh king was executed and puppet ruler was imposed.Harold the warrior, leader and politicianSlide4

Harold’s Embassy to Normandy

Just how powerful Harold had become by the 1060s can be seen when King Edward sent him on embassy to Normandy in 1064.The reasons why Harold was sent on this visit is highly debated and there are two stories.

The Normans claim that Harold was sent to negotiate William, Duke of Normandy inheriting the throne of England.

The Saxons claim that Harold was sent to negotiate the release of two of his family that Duke William was holding hostage.

Harold’s actions in Normandy would be used by William to launch an invasion in 1066.Slide5

Harold sails to Normandy, and is captured by Guy, Count of

Penthieu

.

William, Duke of Normandy hears of this, and demands Harold is delivered to him. Slide6

Harold fights for William during the Battle of

Dinan

, even helping save two Norman soldiers from quicksand.

In honour, William presents Harold with weapons and armour. Slide7

On Holy relics and in front of the Norman court, Harold swears to support William’s claim to the throne of England.Slide8

All

On

your blank map, shade in the areas that the Godwin’s either controlled or influenced. Beside each area, describe what their influence was.

Target 7-5

‘By 1050, the

Godwins had a strong and stable control of England’ – is this an accurate view? Explain by looking at both sides of the argument.Target 4 - 3Give examples of how the Godwins were: economically, politically and militarily powerful. Top tip: you may want to look at Figure 1.5 on p.21, as well consider the embassy and the invasion of Wales!

Learning TasksSlide9

In 1062,

Tostig

and Harold launched an attack on the Welsh king. They replaced him with a king that they could control.

In the 1050s, the Earl of Mercia was exiled and replaced with those loyal to the Godwin's.

Earl

Tostig was Earl of Northumbria, giving them a massive power base in the North.Harold ruled Wessex; he was England’s defence against attacks from Europe so he was very important. He eventually became “Sub-regulus

” – the King’s deputy

and was in charge of the army.

East Anglia was ruled by

Gyrth

, Harold’s teenage brother. Slide10

‘By 1050, the

Godwins had a strong and stable control of England’ – is this an accurate view? Explain by looking at both sides of the argument.On the one hand…

They had extensive landholdings which made them very rich, more so than the king.

The Godwin’s were lords to many

thegns

making them very powerful war-leaders.Due to Harold being sub-regulus, he appointed bishops in the Church who were loyal to the Godwins so they could control the church.Through political marriages, they had massive power e.g. Edith Godwinson was wife to King Edward. Harold himself was married to Edith of Mercia which increased his power.Harold controlled Wessex and Hereford which were England’s defence against attacks so he was very important.Harold had successfully subdued the Welsh – proving himself as an excellent politician and warrior.

Harold had travelled to Normandy as leader of the embassy which shows how much control he had of England.

However…

Edward showed signs of trying to shake off their control – in 1042 he was appointing many Normans to powerful positions.

Some argue that Edward had promised the throne to William, Duke of Normandy rather than Godwin.

In 1051 Edward exiled Godwin and his family from England

which shows there was a lot of tension between the House of Godwin and the monarchy.

Harold had sworn on holy relics to support William’s claim to the throne.

Give examples of how the

Godwins

were: economically, politically and militarily powerful.

Militarily

Ruled over many

thegns

so would have had huge control of the

fyrd

(many of the men would have come from Godwin lands)

Invasion of Wales showed military genius of Harold.

Economically

Very rich due to massive land holdings

Due to so much land being controlled, they would have had extensive knowledge of the tax system.

Politically

Some of the family were on Witan e.g.

Gyrth

Harold was sub-

regulus

, so effectively controlled the kingdom

Controlled the church as many of the bishops had been appointed by Harold.