Which statement best describes Harold Godwinson's claim to the throne?

• A. He had been promised the throne by Edward on his deathbed
• B. He stood by William's pursuit of the throne on sacred relics
• C. He had papal backing to become king
• D. He had no claim to the throne

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how a king’s claim to the throne could be established through the king’s last word. Harold Godwinson argued that Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne on his deathbed, effectively naming Harold as his successor. That dying promise provided a personal basis for legitimacy and helped rally support among the English nobility and the Church, leading to Harold’s coronation after Edward’s death.

This makes the option about a deathbed promise the best description of Harold’s claim. The other lines mix in elements that belong to different narratives: the notion of Harold standing by William’s pursuit on sacred relics relates to William’s contemporary claim and the supposed oath Harold swore to support William, which is part of the Norman persuasion, not Harold’s own justification for ruling England. There wasn’t papal backing for Harold in a way that legitimized his crown, and stating that Harold had no claim ignores the widely circulated idea—whether contested or not—that Edward promised him succession.