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Difficulty: HardThe Norman Conquest

While the Norman Conquest involved a massive military effort, William, the Duke of Normandy, argued that his invasion was legally and morally justified. Which of the following best describes the basis of his claim to the English throne?

  1. He asserted that King Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne and that Harold Godwinson had previously sworn a sacred oath to support his claim.Answer
  2. B
    He claimed that as the supreme leader of the Viking forces, he was the rightful heir to the territories previously ruled by the Danish King Cnut.
  3. C
    He was the eldest biological son of King Edward the Confessor and was seeking to reclaim his birthright after being exiled to France.
  4. D
    He maintained that the rules of the feudal system automatically granted the throne to the most powerful landowner in Northern Europe.

Answer

The correct answer states that William claimed King Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne and that Harold Godwinson had sworn a sacred oath to support his claim.
The correct answer is correct because William the Conqueror's claim was built on two pillars: a personal promise from his cousin, King Edward the Confessor, and a sacred oath sworn by his rival, Harold Godwinson, which William argued had been broken when Harold accepted the crown.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the succession crisis of 1066.
The death of Edward the Confessor without a direct heir created a vacancy on the English throne.
Understanding the context of the vacancy is essential to evaluating the different claims.
2
Evaluate William's specific claim to the crown.
William, Duke of Normandy, was a distant cousin of Edward and claimed that Edward had promised him the throne years earlier.
This establishes the primary 'legal' basis for the Norman invasion.
3
Consider the role of Harold Godwinson in William's justification.
William claimed that when Harold was shipwrecked in Normandy, he swore an oath on holy relics to support William's claim to the throne.
Harold's coronation in England was seen by William as a betrayal of this sacred oath, justifying a 'holy' war.

Key Concept

The Succession Crisis and the Norman Claim
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Topics

The Norman Conquest

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