NATIONAL CURRICULUM KEY STAGE 3 HISTORY THE NORMAN INVASION AND CONQUEST INTERACTIVE How did the Norman Invasion and Conquest change England?

NATIONAL CURRICULUMKEY STAGE 3 HISTORY

THE NORMAN INVASION AND

CONQUESTINTERACTIVE

How did the Norman Invasion and Conquest

change England?

The Norman Invasion and Conquest Interactive

Harold Godwinson was the Earl of Wessex.He was the most powerfulEarl in England and was Edward the Confessor’s Brother-in-Law. He was English.

Harald Hadrada was the grandson of Cnut a former king of England. He also felt that he might get some supportfrom Viking families in the North of England.

William of Normandywas Edward the Confessor’s cousin and was promised the throne by him. He had helped Edward in the past. William was Duke of Normandy.

Edward the Confessor, the King of England, died on 5 January 1066.

Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex wanted to be the next king. He was

the most important noble in the land. Harold knew that gaining the throne was not going to be easy. Two other

men claimed that the throne belonged to them. One was William of

Normandy; the other was Harold Hardrada, the Viking King of Norway.

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The death and funeral of Edward the Confessor.

The Norman Invasion and Conquest Interactive

I helped Edward protect his throne

from earls who rebelled against him.Harold of Wessex also

said that I should become King of

England when Edward died. I am a very good

soldier and England needs a strong ruler

right now. Edward promised the English throne to me.

But...

I might not be English but there have been

other foreign rulers of England in the past. People say that I am very cruel but this is

not true.

What were his weaknesses?

What were his strengths?

CONTENDER 2William of Normandy Don’t listen

to the other two

claimants. I have the

experience and skill.

Duke of Normandy

88

I will make sure England is protected

from any further invasions.

Senlac Hill

Archers

Foot Soldiers

Horses

Housecarls

Fyrd Fyrd

Marshland

The Normans then kept

charging up the hill and hurling their spears but

the English shield wall held

firm and the Normans were

driven back time and again.

The Normans used their

archers to fire arrows at the

Saxons.

The Battle of Hastings 14

October 1066The Afternoon

This animation shows how the Normans tried but

failed to break the Saxon ‘shield wall’.

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