Key people in England before and during the Norman Conquest
Ethelred the Unready, King of England (978-1016) - married Emma of Normandy and with her
had a son Edward. Got into trouble with the Danes and after his death Cnut the Great took the
throne of England.
Emma of Normandy - sister of Richard II, Duke of Normandy. Married Ethelred and had a son
Edward. After Ethelred’s death married Cnut the Great and had a son Harthacnut. The great aunt
of William the Conqueror.
Richard II, Duke of Normandy - grandfather of William the Conqueror, brother of Emma.
Godwin, Earl of Wessex - the most powerful noble lord in England at that time, supported
Edward the Confessor’s claim to the throne of England. Father of Harold and Edith. Edith
married Edward the Confessor.
Cnut the Great, King of Denmark, Norway and later England (1016-1035) - Took the crown of
England for himself by force after Ethelred’s death. Married Emma and had a son Harthacnut.
Harthacnut, King of Denmark and England (1040-1042) - Son of Cnut and Emma. Didn’t have
any children and after his death, his half-brother Edward became King of England.
Edward the Confessor, King of England (1042-1066) - The second to last king of
Anglo-Saxon England. Son of Ethelred and Emma. For the first few decades of his life he lived
in Normandy. Became king after his half-brother Harthacnut’s death. Ruled peacefully for over
20 years. Married Godwin’s daughter and Harold’s sister Edith. Didn’t have any children. Is said
to have promised the throne to both William and Harold.
Harold Godwinson or Harold II, King of England (January - October 1066) - The last king
of Anglo-Saxon England. Son of Godwin and brother-in-law of Edward. Was probably promised
the throne by Edward. After his father’s death became the most powerful noble lord in all of
England. Became king after Edward’s death, defeated Harald Hardrada in the Battle of Stamford
Bridge (25th September 1066), but lost to William the Conqueror and was killed in the Battle of
Hastings (14th October 1066).
Tostig Godwinson - Harold’s brother. Supported Harald Hardrada in his claim to the throne of
England. Fought against his brother in the Battle of Stamford Bridge (25th September 1066) and
was killed alongside Harald Hardrada.
Magnus - the King of Norway after Cnut’s death. Wanted to also become the king of Denmark.
Made a deal with Harthacnut (Danish king) that if one of them died, the other would become the
king of both Denmark and Norway. Became king of Denmark after Harthacnut’s death.
Harald Hardrada - King of Norway after the death of Magnus. Wanted to restore Cnut’s empire
and bring England under his rule. Had local support from Tostig Godwinson. Invaded England in
1066, but was defeated in the Battle of Stamford Bridge (25th September 1066) by Harold
Godwinson.
William I (1066-1087) invaded England in 1066. William said that he was promised the throne
by both Edward and Harold. He was also related to Edward the Confessor (Edward’s mother was
William’s great-aunt). William defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings (14th Oct
1066) and became the king of England.
Under his rule, the local Anglo-Saxon nobility was replaced by Normans. Norman French
became the dominant language of the ruling classes and Old English became the language of the
lower classes (peasants, less skilled craftsmen). William remained the Duke of Normandy and
many of the nobles he brought along had lands in Normandy. The rulers of England were
afterwards for centuries connected to France and constantly tried to increase their influence in
France. The Hundred Years’ War many centuries later was a result of William’s conquest.
In order to better collect taxes, William I wanted to know who owned what in England.
He therefore ordered a Great Survey to be carried out, the results of which were compiled into
the Domesday Book (1086). The Domesday Book is a record of all the land-holdings in England
along with their holders. It is an invaluable historical source for demographic and economic
history.
William I had 4 sons: Robert, Richard, William and Henry. William I decided that, after
his death, Normandy would be ruled by the eldest son Robert, and England (because the second
eldest son Richard had died earlier) by William. William I died in 1087 due to injuries he
sustained in a riding accident.
