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Year 10
Edexcel

Edward the Confessor and the House of Godwin

I can explain why the Godwin family was so powerful in Anglo-Saxon England.

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Year 10
Edexcel

Edward the Confessor and the House of Godwin

I can explain why the Godwin family was so powerful in Anglo-Saxon England.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. After years in exile in Normandy, Edward the Confessor's position as king was weak; he relied on Earl Godwin's support.
  2. In 1051 the Godwins were exiled after tensions over Edward's Norman advisers.
  3. After threatening to invade, the Godwins returned to positions of power.
  4. Edward relied more and more on the Godwins, whose power increased.
  5. In a trip to Normandy in 1064, Harold Godwin made promises to William, Duke of Normandy.

Keywords

  • Exile - exile is when someone is sent away from your home country

  • Adviser - an Anglo-Saxon adviser was a high-ranking noble who gave advice to the monarch, such as an earl or bishop

  • Successor - a successor is a person expected to inherit the throne after the monarch has died

  • House - a House refers to a dynasty, a group of leaders or rulers from the same family

  • Chronicler - a chronicler is someone who writes a record of historical events

Common misconception

An Anglo-Saxon monarch held all the power in their kingdom.

In fact, Anglo-Saxon nobles could force their monarchs to do things they did not want to do. For example, King Edward was forced to allow the House of Godwin back from exile and restore them to their earldoms.


To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: Edward the Confessor and the House of Godwin, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Have students create a timeline of the events from Edward's time in Normandy to Harold's promise to William.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What distinguished local Anglo-Saxon priests from those influenced by European Church reforms?
They believed in Jesus Christ.
They lived in monasteries.
Correct answer: They were often married.
Q2.
What word means living in a way that is devoted to religion?
Correct Answer: Piety, piety
Q3.
Which church was rebuilt, making it was the biggest in Britain by the time of the death of Edward the Confessor?
Correct answer: Westminster Abbey
The Church of the Confessor
Canterbury Cathedral
Q4.
Which of the following statements describes the original use of the burh?
Correct answer: a fortress designed to defend the area from invading Danes
to house more merchants and manufacturers from the countryside
a place to trade
Q5.
Which one statement best describes the impact of farming villages moving closer together?
Correct answer: These villages became an opportunity for cooperation.
These villages became subject to greater conflict.
Religion became less important as villages prioritised economic development.
Q6.
Why was a burh a safe places for people to trade?
Slaves surrounded the burh to prevent any issues with trade.
The burh was protected by the peasants.
Correct answer: They were built with strong walls, helping to prevent against Viking attacks.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words with their definitions. Write the correct letter in each box.
Correct Answer:advisor,a high-ranking noble who gave advice to the monarch
tick

a high-ranking noble who gave advice to the monarch

Correct Answer:successor,a person expected to inherit the throne after the monarch has died.
tick

a person expected to inherit the throne after the monarch has died.

Correct Answer:chronicler,someone who writes a record of historical events
tick

someone who writes a record of historical events

Q2.
Upon which earl's support was Edward the Confessor reliant after years of exile in Normandy?
Correct answer: Earl Godwin
Duke William of Normandy
Earl Harold Godwinson
Q3.
Which keyword is when someone is sent away from their home country?
Correct Answer: exile, Exile
Q4.
Why did the the House of Godwin flee into exile in the summer of 1051?
Correct answer: Edward suspected Godwin of having betrayed his brother in the Viking invasion.
Edward was angry because Godwin had not backed his military campaigns.
Correct answer: Edward suggested that Duke William of Normandy could be his successor.
Q5.
Why was Edward forced to forgive Godwin and return him and his sons to their former earldoms?
Godwin’s daughter, Edith, had put significant pressure on Edward.
Correct answer: Godwin raised huge military support in England.
Forgiveness was a central aspect of how Edward engaged with his religion.
Q6.
Which of the following three reasons explain why the House of Godwin was so powerful?
Correct answer: Harold Godwinson influenced the appointments of many bishops.
Harold Godwinson made all boys swear an oath of allegiance.
Correct answer: Harold Godwinson's two marriages gained him powerful relatives.
Correct answer: Harold and his brother Tostig led successful military campaigns in Wales.

Additional material

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