He was a personal friend of King Edward ‘The Confessor’ of England, and the grandson of Edward’s uncle Richard II of Normandy. Originally, a powerful member of the nobility named Harold Godwinson had been intended for the throne of England, however during the later years of the king’s life Godwinson’s family fell out of favour, and Edward promised the throne to William instead.
This muddled line of succession is cited by historians as the main cause for the dispute that arose upon Edward’s death, which concluded with William defeating his rivals and being crowned king.
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