Well, it depends on who's story you believe. It is pretty certain that Edward promised the throne to William in 1051, it is also true that Edward hated the Godwins with a passion, it is also true that Harolds claim to the throne was to say the least, tenuos, inthat his only claim was the Edward was married to his sister and it looks very much like the marriage was never consummated anyway. So, there are some people who consider that Harold was in fact a usurper, and William was the rightful king.

Actually, that's bollocks, Silas. Edward can promise anything he wants. Primogenture is not the law, and the wish of the king even less binding. It's true that the Witan usually confirms the son of the king getting the crown, but it isn't given.

As for the crown being promised to some foreign git that's no blood relation? No sirree, not under Englisc Law. "William had a tenuous blood claim through his great aunt Emma (wife of Ethelred and mother of Edward). William also contended that Edward, who had spent much of his life in exile in Normandy during the Danish occupation of England, had promised him the throne when he visited Edward in London in 1051. Further, William claimed that Harold had pledged allegiance to him in 1064: William had rescued the shipwrecked Harold from the count of Ponthieu, and together they had defeated Conan II, Duke of Brittany. On that occasion, William had knighted Harold; he had also, however, deceived Harold by having him swear loyalty to William himself over the concealed bones of a saint."

Hated the Godwins? I'd like to see the evidence, please. He may have chafed under Godwin first, and under Harold second, but Edward was a weak king who would have been dominated by any magnate. I don't see how that becomes a justification for giving his crown away to whoever he felt like.

As an argument for the Norman Conquest, this holds about as much water as kendall's for the marbles... Oh, and Guest - Irish are you? Sounds like it. Bitter at the least and engaging in Mudcat's least favourite tactic - bitching behind anonymity.