Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History

    Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015

    The house of Godwin: Harold Godwinson’s succession as Earl of Wessex; the…

    Full specification wording

    Late Anglo- Saxon England, c1053–66: The house of Godwin: Harold Godwinson’s succession as Earl of Wessex; the power of the Godwin siblings; the campaign against the Welsh; Harold Godwinson’s embassy to Normandy; the rising against Tostig and his exile.

    The house of Godwin dominated late Anglo-Saxon politics.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 3 of 4
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The house of Godwin dominated late Anglo-Saxon politics. When Earl Godwin died in 1053, Harold succeeded him as Earl of Wessex, taking control of the richest earldom and becoming the king’s leading magnate. His siblings held earldoms: Tostig in Northumbria, Gyrth in East Anglia, Leofwine in the south-east, and Edith was Edward’s queen. This network gave the family military, judicial and economic power. In the early 1060s Harold led a successful campaign against the Welsh, defeating Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and winning prestige. He also went on an embassy to Normandy, probably in 1064, where he swore an oath to William according to Norman sources. In 1065 Northumbrian rebels rose against Tostig, and Harold acquiesced in his exile, weakening the family’s unity but preserving his own position.

    What earns the marks

    • Explains how Harold became Earl of Wessex in 1053 after Godwin’s death, and why this earldom was the wealthiest and most strategically important.
    • Analyses the power of the Godwin siblings: Tostig, Gyrth, Leofwine and Edith, and how their positions extended family influence over crown, church and localities.
    • Describes Harold’s Welsh campaign, including the defeat of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and the political and military gains for Harold and Edward.
    • Explains the purpose and consequences of Harold’s embassy to Normandy, including the disputed oath to William and its use in Norman propaganda.
    • Examines the causes and course of the rising against Tostig in 1065, and the significance of Harold’s role in Tostig’s exile for Godwin family cohesion and royal authority.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Treating Harold’s succession as Earl of Wessex as automatic.

      Put it right: It followed Godwin’s death in 1053 and depended on royal approval and family influence.

    • Assuming all Godwin siblings held earldoms.

      Put it right: Edith was queen, not an earl, and the brothers held different earldoms at different times.

    • Presenting Harold’s Welsh campaign as a minor raid.

      Put it right: It was a major royal-backed campaign that removed Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and enhanced Harold’s reputation.

    • Stating the Norman oath as undisputed fact.

      Put it right: The oath is reported by Norman sources and its exact terms and circumstances are debated.

    • Claiming Harold supported Tostig in 1065.

      Put it right: Harold allowed Tostig’s exile to avoid civil war and protect his own succession prospects.

    Exam tips

    • Use the specification wording to structure your answer: succession, siblings, Wales, Normandy, Tostig.
    • Support each point with specific dates, names and places, such as 1053, 1063, 1064 and 1065.
    • When discussing the oath, compare Norman and English evidence and explain why the difference matters.
    • Link the rising against Tostig to the wider theme of royal authority and the succession crisis of 1066.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Late Anglo- Saxon England, c1053–66: The house of Godwin: Harold Godwinson’s succession as Earl of Wessex; the power of the Godwin siblings; the campaign against the Welsh; Harold Godwinson’s embassy to Normandy; the rising against Tostig and his exile. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which earldom did Harold Godwinson hold after his father Godwin died in 1053?

    Listen

    The house of Godwin dominated late Anglo-Saxon politics. When Earl Godwin died in 1053, Harold succeeded him as Earl of Wessex, taking control of the richest earldom and becoming the king’s leading magnate. His siblings held earldoms: Tostig in Northumbria, Gyrth in East Anglia, Leofwine in the south-east, and Edith was Edward’s queen. This network gave the family military, judicial and economic power. In the early 1060s Harold led a successful campaign against the Welsh, defeating Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and winning prestige. He also went on an embassy to Normandy, probably in 1064, where he swore an oath to William according to Norman sources. In 1065 Northumbrian rebels rose against Tostig, and Harold acquiesced in his exile, weakening the family’s unity but preserving his own position. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how Harold became Earl of Wessex in 1053 after Godwin’s death, and why this earldom was the wealthiest and most strategically important. Analyses the power of the Godwin siblings: Tostig, Gyrth, Leofwine and Edith, and how their positions extended family influence over crown, church and localities. Describes Harold’s Welsh campaign, including the defeat of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and the political and military gains for Harold and Edward. Explains the purpose and consequences of Harold’s embassy to Normandy, including the disputed oath to William and its use in Norman propaganda. A common slip: treating Harold’s succession as Earl of Wessex as automatic. Instead, it followed Godwin’s death in 1053 and depended on royal approval and family influence. Exam tip: Use the specification wording to structure your answer: succession, siblings, Wales, Normandy, Tostig.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. It begins with Godwin dying in 1053, leading to Harold succeeding as Earl of Wessex. From Harold's succession, two branches emerge: one to the Godwin siblings holding earldoms and queenship, and one to Harold's embassy to Normandy, probably in 1064, which leads to the oath to William reported by Norman sources. From the siblings node, two further branches emerge: one to Harold's campaign against the Welsh, which leads to the defeat of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, and one to the Northumbrian rising against Tostig in 1065, which leads to Harold acquiescing in Tostig's exile, and finally to family unity being weakened while Harold's own position is preserved.
    A sequence showing Harold's succession in 1053, the power of the Godwin siblings, the Welsh campaign, the Norman embassy and the 1065 rising against Tostig leading to his exile.

    Put the events in order

    Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

    1. 1. Northumbrian rebels rose against Tostig
    2. 2. Harold Godwinson succeeded as Earl of Wessex after Godwin's death
    3. 3. Harold went on an embassy to Normandy
    4. 4. Harold led a successful campaign against the Welsh

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Power and authority

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Family and succession

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Kingship and nobility

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Military campaigns and diplomacy

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Power and authority
    The family network gave the Godwins military, judicial and economic power, extending their influence over crown, church and localities.
    Family and succession
    Harold succeeded Godwin as Earl of Wessex in 1053, depending on royal approval and family influence rather than being automatic.
    Kingship and nobility
    Harold became the king's leading magnate, while his siblings held earldoms and Edith was Edward's queen.
    Military campaigns and diplomacy
    Harold led a royal-backed campaign against the Welsh and went on an embassy to Normandy, where he swore an oath to William according to Norman sources.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. It begins with Godwin dying in 1053, leading to Harold succeeding as Earl of Wessex. From Harold's succession, two branches emerge: one to the Godwin siblings holding earldoms and queenship, and one to Harold's embassy to Normandy, probably in 1064, which leads to the oath to William reported by Norman sources. From the siblings node, two further branches emerge: one to Harold's campaign against the Welsh, which leads to the defeat of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, and one to the Northumbrian rising against Tostig in 1065, which leads to Harold acquiescing in Tostig's exile, and finally to family unity being weakened while Harold's own position is preserved.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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    Test your understanding of Late Anglo- Saxon England, c1053–66: The house of Godwin: Harold Godwinson’s succession as Earl of Wessex; the power of the Godwin siblings; the campaign against the Welsh; Harold Godwinson’s embassy to Normandy; the rising against Tostig and his exile.

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