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The WITAN. The name witenagemot derives from the Old English for "meeting of wise men" ( witan , wise man or counsellor; gemot , assembly ). Who were the WITAN?. Its origins came from Germanic lands A powerful assembly of influential men summoned by the King – all Anglo-Saxon
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The WITAN The name witenagemot derives from the Old English for "meeting of wise men" (witan, wise man or counsellor;gemot, assembly)
Who were the WITAN? • Its origins came from Germanic lands • A powerful assembly of influential men summoned by the King – all Anglo-Saxon • Including archbishops, earls, dukes, princes, bishops and other members of the clergy • Their most important task was to decide who the next King would be – not necessarily the King’s son
The most famous WITANJanuary 5 1066 • On the death of ............? the Witan met to decide ‘Who should be king’? • They had, as you know, 4 claims to consider
YOU are the WITAN!!!! • Consider your contender as if you were the WITAN • You can only pick one to be King – who? • Why do you reject the others? Think about who you are and what you want as members of the WITAN • What is your decision?
What the real WITAN did • The real WITAN chose HAROLD GODWINSON because ... • He was an Anglo Saxon – like them • He would help keep them in power • He was in England at the time • He was ruler of Wessex, the most powerful kingdom with the most powerful nobles • Edgar Aetheling, despite being the closest blood relation to Edward the Confessor, was only a child • William and Hardrada were both foreigners and were overseas • They could bring their own lords with them – and dismiss the WITAN • The WITAN were looking after themselves as well as the country!!!
