A Rich and Powerful Kingdom

At the beginning of 1066, England was one of the richest kingdoms in Europe. The country was peaceful, well organised and wealthy.

England was ruled by King Edward the Confessor. He had been king since 1042. Edward was deeply religious and spent much of his time praying and building churches.

However, there was a serious problem.

The Problem of Succession

Edward had no children.

This meant that when he died, nobody knew for certain who should become king. Powerful men across Europe believed they had a right to the English throne.

This created uncertainty and danger.

Whoever became king would need:

• Support from powerful nobles
• A strong army
• Military skill
• The ability to defend England from invasion