Why was there a disputed succession in 1066, and why did William win the throne?
The death of Edward the Confessor and the rival claims of Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada, the battles of Gate Fulford and Stamford Bridge, the Battle of Hastings, and the reasons for William's victory.
A focused answer to the succession crisis of 1066 in OCR's Norman Conquest depth study, covering the death of Edward the Confessor, the rival claims of Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada, the battles of Gate Fulford, Stamford Bridge and Hastings, and why William won.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
This is the heart of the Norman Conquest story: the disputed succession of 1066 and the campaign that put William on the throne. You need to explain why three men claimed the crown, how Harold fought off one invasion only to lose to another, and why William won at Hastings. Because the depth study uses interpretation questions, be ready to weigh different explanations for William's victory.
The death of Edward and the three claimants
The northern invasion: Gate Fulford and Stamford Bridge
The Battle of Hastings
Why did William win?
Try this
Q1. Name the three claimants to the English throne in 1066. [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada.
Q2. Explain why Harold's army was at a disadvantage at Hastings. [Short explanation]
- Cue. It had just fought and marched north for Stamford Bridge, so the men were exhausted and some reinforcements had not arrived, and the pursuit of William's feigned retreat broke their strong shield-wall position.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR SHP 20188 marksHow useful are Sources A and B to a historian studying the Battle of Hastings?Show worked answer →
The British depth study source utility question (8 marks, AO3). Judge usefulness through content and provenance, focused on the Battle of Hastings.
Content. Explain what each source shows, for example the Norman cavalry charges, the Saxon shield wall, the feigned retreats, or the death of Harold (the Bayeux Tapestry's famous scene).
Provenance. Weigh the origin and purpose. The Bayeux Tapestry was made for a Norman patron (probably Bishop Odo) and presents the Norman version; a chronicle's date and author shape what it stresses.
Judgement. Conclude how useful each is for understanding the battle, balancing vivid contemporary detail against the bias of a victor's account.
OCR SHP 202216 marks'William won the Battle of Hastings mainly because of Harold's mistakes.' How far do you agree with this statement?Show worked answer →
The extended judgement question (16 marks; this depth-study essay does not carry the separate SPaG marks, which sit on the thematic study). Argue both sides with precise support and reach a clear judgement.
For Harold's mistakes. He marched south exhausted after Stamford Bridge, did not wait for reinforcements, and his men may have broken the shield wall to chase the feigned Norman retreat, fatally weakening their position.
Other factors. William's planning and leadership (cavalry, archers and combined tactics), the chance timing of the wind and Hardrada's invasion, and Norman discipline and the feigned retreats all contributed.
Judgement. Weigh Harold's errors against William's skill and luck. A strong answer argues that Harold's mistakes mattered but that William's leadership and good fortune were at least as important, and reaches a supported conclusion.
Related dot points
- The structure of late Anglo-Saxon society and government, the power of the king and earls, the role of the Church, the economy and towns, and the strengths and weaknesses of England that shaped the events of 1066.
A focused answer to the opening of OCR's Norman Conquest British depth study, covering Anglo-Saxon society and government, the power of Edward the Confessor and the great earls, the Church, the economy and towns, and the strengths and weaknesses of England in 1065.
- Rebellions against Norman rule, the building of castles, the Harrying of the North in 1069 to 1070, the use of land and the redistribution of estates, and the means by which William secured his conquest.
A focused answer to how William secured England in OCR's Norman Conquest depth study, covering the rebellions of 1067 to 1071, the building of castles, the brutal Harrying of the North in 1069 to 1070, the redistribution of land to Norman lords, and the methods of Norman control.
- The feudal system of land in return for service, the roles of barons, knights and villeins, the changes to government and law under William, the position of the king, and how far Norman rule changed or continued Anglo-Saxon ways.
A focused answer to Norman government in OCR's Norman Conquest depth study, covering the feudal system of land for service, the roles of barons, knights and villeins, changes to royal government and law under William, and how far Norman rule changed or continued Anglo-Saxon ways.
- Norman reform of the English Church under Lanfranc, the building of cathedrals, the relationship between Church and king, the making and purpose of the Domesday Book in 1086, and what it shows about Norman control of England.
A focused answer to the Norman Church and the Domesday Book in OCR's Norman Conquest depth study, covering Lanfranc's reform of the English Church, the building of Norman cathedrals, Church and royal power, and the making, purpose and significance of the Domesday Book of 1086.