Why did William conquer

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Q.� Why the Confessor

A.� He was a religious man. In 1042, the Witan - the great council - selected Edward, surviving son of Ethelred II and Emma, to succeed Hardecanute, the last of England's true Danish kings. Edward was 37 and had lived in the Norman court for most of his life. Politically, he was a weak king and dominated by the powerful statesman, Godwin, Earl of Wessex. They fell out, Godwin and his sons were banished, and Edward brought in more Norman influences.

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Q.� And named a successor

A.� In 1051, according to the Bayeux Tapestry, Edward supposedly promised William that he would be heir to the throne of England if Edward died without an heir. Then Godwin and his five sons - Harold, Sweyn, Tostig, Gyrth and Leofwin - returned from exile. They seem to have done this easily, which suggests that Edward was losing powerful friends who would help him.

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Q.� And Harold

A.� He became Earl of Wessex when his father died on 13 April, 1053. Two years later, the Earl of Northumbria died and the earldom went to Harold's brother Tostig. Now, with Wessex, Northumbria, Sussex, Essex, Kent, and East Anglia under the control of his family, Harold's position was secure. Then came a setback. Tostig was exiled.

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Q.� Why

A.� Tostig mistreated and terrorised his people; they revolted, declared him an outlaw and invited Morcar, the brother of the Earl of Mercia, to take over Northumbria. Harold, asked by Edward to find a solution, abandoned Morcar, making him a deadly enemy - and lost the support of Northumbria in the bargain. Then there's Harold's apparent oath.

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Q.� What was that

A.� Harold - by William's story ' was meant to have visited him in Normandy to find out if Edward really had promised him the throne. He is then alleged to have sworn to support William's claim to the throne. All very unlikely. Then Edward died.

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Q.� Oh dear.

A.� Edward the Confessor succumbed on 5 January, 1066. On his deathbed, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, he told Harold:

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This woman [Edith, Godwin's daughter and his queen] and all the kingdom I commend to your charge ...

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Harold thought that meant Edward wanted him to be king. Harold then gathered a Witan (of his friends and supporters) and had himself elected king. He was crowned the next day.

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Q.� And news spread

A.� Within three days of Harold's coronation, the news had reached Tostig in Flanders. William found out a few hours afterwards. They weren't happy.

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Next week: Preparing for invasion

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Steve Cunningham