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So I've thought up a timeline (tentatively) called House of Godwinson.

The POD is, when Edward the Confessor wakes up from his coma, names Harold as his successor, and dies, Harold decides to quiet his enemies by refusing the crown when it is offered to him by the Witenagemot.

Instead, he supports Edgar the Atheling, and when the inevitable Viking and Norman invasions come, both have less support, (as all William has to claim is his loose lineage and a protest against the idea of an underage king) and are easily crushed before Harold, fighting in Edgar's name, as he is an underage king.

Harold also manipulates the underage king Edgar, persuading him to throw a massive feast in honor of himself being crowned. He thus shifts Edgar's focus towards feasts and parties, rather then war, and convinces the king that, as an underage, untested ruler, he should not be fighting.

In winning wars and presenting the king as one who will not war, Harold gains immense support in the Witenagemot, slowly attaining his OTL goal (kingship) on his own terms.

This also allows his to raise his new son Harold the Younger, born in 1066.

In 1067, instead of being a corpse in the ground, Harold Godwinson is the toast of the nobility, his massive popularity allowing him to be king in all but name, and his riches enabling him to keep King Edgar complacent and under control.

As a deeply pious man, Harold is even friends with the Church, spending his own money to build monasteries within Wessex, and toying with sending an emissary to Rome, or even taking a pilgrimage to the Eternal City.

However, not all things go well for Earl Harold. The French and remaining Normans are outraged by Harold's victory over them, and plot to overthrow his rule.

The Northern Earls are pacified by Harold's goodwill towards him, but Earl Cadoc of Cornwall is jealous of his powerful neighbor, and waits for any opportunity to seize more powerful for him.



Aaaand that's about all I have so far.

I need with finding the major issues in Europe at this time, and twisting them in a believable way.

I have toyed with having more Normans immigrate to Sicily, in the wake of the unsuccessful invasion of England.

I've also considered the Pope declaring an early Crusade, and petitioning Harold to join, offering him Papal support for the crown of England if he does.

And as I noted in the outline of my TL, Cornwall and the French/Normans both seek to oppose mighty Harold. Maybe even Count Guy of Brittany has designs upon Harold's life.

I could perhaps bring the Scots and Welsh into the mix, both cautious of the powerful Harold, but both knowing that if they can get him out of the way, then King Edgar is far too weak to oppose them.

So there's that. But I still need more things to happen, mostly as OTL, but a bit differently.

I also need a map of England right before the invasion, if anyone could get me that.

So, any suggestions?
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