The Norman Claim to the English crownBackground - England in Turmoil England had been in a power struggle for approximately two hundred
years England had been formed of many small kingdoms including Wessex,
Mercia, Northumbria and Cornwall. The Saxons saw themselves as several different countries ruled by one English King - Edward the Confessor (in preference to any foreign kings such as King Canute who was also the King of Denmark)
The Relationship between Normandy and England Normandy had close ties of friendship with Wessex dating back to 988 In 988 a formal treaty was arranged between Wessex and Normandy by the Pope The treaty signed by Normandy and Wessex agreed not to harbor the
other’s enemies, namely, the Vikings! Normandy was the closest land opposite Wessex separated by the channel and they were natural trading partners The rulers of the House of Wessex had used Normandy as their refuge in times of trouble Edward the Confessor had lived in Normandy and had many friends there. He even brought Norman advisors to his court in England In 1051 Edward the announced that a Norman should succeed him and become King of England
Duke William the Bastard's Claim to the English Throne Duke William the Bastard justified his claim through his blood relationship with Edward the Confessor (they were distant cousins) William strengthened this claim by stating that Edward the Confessor
had designated him as his successor William claimed Harold Godwinson had sworn a sacred oath of allegiance to him and to his right to the throne When Harold broke the oath William received religious and political backing from Rome to start a Holy Crusade against Harold who the Pope had excommunicated!
To find out more about their claims to the English throne please click one of the following links: The Hardrada the Viking claim
The Harold Godwinson of Wessex claim
The Edgar the Aetheling claim
Wessex and the Anglo Saxons
The Kings of England 871 - 1066
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