KS_outline_period3_Edward

__**t Why King Edward is responsible for the fall of England**__
1. __Introduction__
 * King Edward neglected his country.
 * His last few days were spent partying and hunting when he should have been making plans to make sure that his kingdom was secure before he dies.
 * He carelessly traveled many places when he knew his health was in poor condition.
 * Below lies all the proof that you need to find King Edward guilty

2. **First Supporting Paragraph**
 * __When King Edward died, he failed to leave an heir or appoint one.__
 * A**. The book states that there will be foreigners trying to become king (Duke William and Harald Hardrada). On page 157, the Archbishop says, "//Edward's only heir is his very young cousin who is somewhere on the continent. He has not been educated to rule. He does not know the English tongue. He is a mere boy. It would take weeks to find him and weeks more to bring him here safely and annoint him as king. King Edward's only other relative is William of Normandy.//"


 * B**. In the past, there have been disputes over who was to be king when a king died without appointing/leaving an heir (pg 155) //"For a king to die childless foretold disaster for the country. In the past, earl had risen up aginst earl, each wrestling for greater power, thus leaving the kingdom weak and a temptingly easy prey for foreign invaders."// . There was an arguement among the nobles over who would become king, which resulted in the Battle of Hastings and the Battle of Stamford Bridge. This obviously caused a lot of trouble for everyone especially Harold and Tostig. If Edward had appointed an heir Tostig might not have been as mad at Harold for taking the throne (and leaving him in the dust) and he wouldn't have decided to go into battle against him.

3. **Second Supporting Paragraph**
 * __King Edward was being lazy and not making sure his country was secure for the future.__
 * A**. He was building an abbey when he should have been preparing his country for war. On page 259 Evyn writes //"King Edward came to Westminster toward Cristmas, and there had the abbey church consecrated which he himself had built to the glory of God, St.Peter, and all God's saints."//


 * B**. He left Harold with the difficult decision of taking away Tostig's Earldom. On page 142 Harold says, "//I am not of a mind to speak against my own brother.//" When Harold did take it away, Tostig was infuriated and gathered an army to kill Harold and gain control of the kingdom.
 * __He let the Northumbrians suffer under Tostig's rule for 10 years__
 * A**. On page 142 Edwin says, "//But our neighbors in Northumbrains have suffered for ten long years under Tostig's greed and cruelty. King Edward has been deaf to our pleas.//"


 * B**. This battle left Harold and his men in a tired-out and weakened state prior to the Battle of Hastings.

4. **Conclusion** Over all King Edward failed to meet the needs of his country when it was in crisis. He demonstrated ignorance and poor judgment. Leaving his country defenseless, bankrupt, and without an heir after his death; resulting in the battle that killed Tostig and left the Fyrd weak for the battle of Hastings and caused the country to fall to Duke William who ties back to the fact that King Edward did not leave a rightful heir. So as you can see it is because of King Edward that England is like it is.