In
1065 On 6th January 1066, the Witan
decided that Harold
of Wessex was
to be the next king of England. Harold was fully aware that
Harald Hardrada of Norway and
William of Normandy would probably
try to take the throne from him. He therefore had to plan his
defence of England against these two powerful enemies.
Activity 1: Read about Harold's defence
plans and then answer the following questions:
(a) Who did King Harold believe posed the main threat to his
throne?
(b) What did King Harold do in the summer of 1066 to protect
England from an invasion?
(c) If you had been King Harold, what would have worried you
about your situation during the summer of 1066?
Activity 2: Read the Battle
of Stamford Bridge and answer the following questions:
(a) The three accounts of the Battle
of Stamford Bridge (SB1 - SB3) do not always agree on what
actually happened. Make a list of the ways these accounts differ.
(b) Give as many reasons as you can why the accounts in the
Anglo-Saxon
Chronicles might be inaccurate.
(c) Which of the two accounts, version C or D, is likely to
be the most accurate?
(d) Florence of Worcester wrote about the Battle
of Stamford Bridge nearly sixty years after it took place.
Where would he have got his information from?
(e) Why would Harold have been very worried when he heard the
news that William
of Normandy had landed at Pevensey
Bay?
(f) If you had been King Harold what would you have done when
you heard that William
of Normandy had arrived in England?
