What was William of Normandy's claim to the English throne?

Answer 1

Answer

By the end of the tenth century England had become one united country ruled by Anglo saxon kings from the house of Wessex. Since the year 991, the King was Ethelred II, dubbed "The Unready".

For a short time, 1013 to 1014 Sweyn I, a Danish King ruled England and had intended his son, Cnut to succeed him. Ethelred drove Cnut out of the country and was re-instated as King. Ethelred died on 23 April 1016 and was succeeded by his son Edmund II Known as "Ironside."

In October, 1016 England was invaded by Cnut, (also known as Canute), who became King of England. He was already King of Denmark, Norway and parts of Sweden.

The north western part of France, nearest to England, is the Duchy of Normandy - a Duchy is an area ruled by a Duke. The then Duke of Normandy was Richard I, known as "the fearless" and in July 1017 Cnut married Richard's daughter, Emma. Emma was the widow of the previous English King Ethelred "the Unready."

At Christmas 1017, Cnut murdered all of the supporters of the previous king who he could find.

The rightful heir to the throne was a son of Ethelred and Emma, named Edward, and he and his brothers fled to Normandy for safety where they were taken in by Duke Richard II, who was the son of Richard I and was also their mother's brother. Richard II was followed as Duke by his eldest son also called Richard, and after a short time by his other son Robert. Robert was Robert II, "The Magnificent" and was also called "Robert the devil" because of suspicions that he had murdered his brother.

Robert died in July 1035, leaving only illegitimate children, the oldest of whom was William who then became Duke William II of Normandy.

It was this William who invaded England in 1066, becoming King William I of England. One part of his claim to the English throne, therefore was that he was related to the Anglo saxon kings - Emma was his great aunt.

Meanwhile in England, under the kingship of Canute, the Godwin family prospered and became wealthy and important landowners. One, Harold Godwinson, had become Earl of Wessex.

Canute had a son Harold, whose mother was Aelgifu of Northampton and another son Harthacanute whose mother was Emma of Normandy. When Cnut died in 1035 his son Harold, known as "Harefoot" became King of England.

On Harold Harefoot's death in March 1040 Harthacanute became King.

In 1041, Harthacanute invited his half brother, Edward (the above mentioned son of Ethelred and Emma) to return to England and, it is thought, made Edward the heir to the throne.

Edward became king, as Edward I, when Harthacanute died in June 1042. He later became a very devout Christian, and was known as "Edward the Confessor." He was made a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church in the year 1161.

William of Normandy visited London in 1052 and later claimed that Edward had promised he would become king on his death.

Harold Godwinson also claimed that Edward had promised the throne to him - both claims may well be true.

Edward died on 4th January 1066 and Harold was appointed king as Harold II, the matter then being resolved by William's victory over Harold at The Battle of Hastings in October 1066.

William also later claimed personal ownership of all the land in England "by right of conquest," a claim he would not have been able to make if he had not taken the crown by force.

Answer 2

Answer

By the end of the tenth century England had become one united country ruled by Anglo Saxon kings from the house of Wessex. Since the year 991, the King was Ethelred II, dubbed "The Unready".

For a short time, 1013 to 1014 Sweyn I, a Danish King ruled England and had intended his son, Cnut to succeed him. Ethelred drove Cnut out of the country and was re-instated as King. Ethelred died on 23 April 1016 and was succeeded by his son Edmund II Known as "Ironside."

In October, 1016 England was invaded by Cnut, (also known as Canute), who became King of England. He was already King of Denmark, Norway and parts of Sweden.

The north western part of France, nearest to England, is the Duchy of Normandy - a Duchy is an area ruled by a Duke. The then Duke of Normandy was Richard I, known as "the fearless" and in July 1017 Cnut married Richard's daughter, Emma. Emma was the widow of the previous English King Ethelred "the Unready."

At Christmas 1017, Cnut murdered all of the supporters of the previous king who he could find.

The rightful heir to the throne was a son of Ethelred and Emma, named Edward, and he and his brothers fled to Normandy for safety where they were taken in by Duke Richard II, who was the son of Richard I and was also their mother's brother. Richard II was followed as Duke by his eldest son also called Richard, and after a short time by his other son Robert. Robert was Robert II, "The Magnificent" and was also called "Robert the devil" because of suspicions that he had murdered his brother.

Robert died in July 1035, leaving only illegitimate children, the oldest of whom was William who then became Duke William II of Normandy.

It was this William who invaded England in 1066, becoming King William I of England. One part of his claim to the English throne, therefore was that he was related to the Anglo Saxon kings - Emma was his great aunt.

Meanwhile in England, under the kingship of Canute, the Godwin family prospered and became wealthy and important landowners. One, Harold Godwinson, had become Earl of Wessex.

Canute had a son Harold, whose mother was Aelgifu of Northampton and another son Harthacanute whose mother was Emma of Normandy. When Cnut died in 1035 his son Harold, known as "Harefoot" became King of England.

On Harold Harefoot's death in March 1040 Harthacanute became King.

In 1041, Harthacanute invited his half brother, Edward (the above mentioned son of Ethelred and Emma) to return to England and, it is thought, made Edward the heir to the throne.

Edward became king, as Edward I, when Harthacanute died in June 1042. He later became a very devout Christian, and was known as "Edward the Confessor." He was made a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church in the year 1161.

William of Normandy visited London in 1052 and later claimed that Edward had promised he would become king on his death.

Harold Godwinson also claimed that Edward had promised the throne to him - both claims may well be true.

Edward died on 4th January 1066 and Harold was appointed king as Harold II, the matter then being resolved by William's victory over Harold at The Battle of Hastings in October 1066.

William also later claimed personal ownership of all the land in England "by right of conquest," a claim he would not have been able to make if he had not taken the crown by force.

Answer 3

he was the kings cousin