Edward The CONFESSOR

1003 - 1066  (63 years)

• Name	Edward The CONFESSOR
  Birth	1003	England
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	Konge
  Residence	Normandie
  Death	5 Jan 1066	London   [2]
  Notes	b. c. 1003,, Islip, Eng. d. Jan. 5, 1066, London; canonized 1161; original feast day January 5, now October 13 byname SAINT EDWARD THE CONFESSOR king of England from 1042 to 1066. Although he was a listless, ineffectual monarch overshadowed by powerful nobles, his reputation for piety evidently preserved much of the dignity of the crown. His close tie s to Normandy prepared the way for the conquest of England by Normans under William, Duke of Normandy (later King William I the Conqueror), in 1066. Edward was the son of King Ethelred II the Unready (reigned 978-1016) and Emma, daughter of Richard II, Duke of Normandy. When the Danes invaded England in 1013, the family escaped to Normandy; the following year Edward returned to England with th e ambassadors who negotiated the pact that returned his father to power. After Ethelred's death in 1016 the Danes again took control of England. Edward lived in exile in Normandy until 1041, when he returned to the London court of his half brothe r (Emma was their mother), King Hardecanute. Edward succeeded to the throne in 1042 and quickly seized the property of his mother, who had plotted against his accession. Nevertheless, for the first 11 years of his reign the real master of Englan d was Godwine, Earl of Wessex. Edward married Godwine's daughter Edith in 1045, but by 1049 a breach had occurred between the two men. In 1051 Edward outlawed the Godwine family and dismissed Edith. During this period Edward was rapidly losing pop ularity by giving foreigners--particularly Normans--high positions in his government. Hence in 1053 Godwine and his sons were able to gather large forces against the king. They forced Edward to restore their lands, and they exiled many of his fore ign favourites. Upon Godwine's death in 1053, his son Harold became the dominant power in the kingdom. It was Harold rather than Edward who subjugated Wales in 1063 and negotiated with the rebellious Northumbrians in 1065. Consequently, Edwar d on his deathbed named Harold as his successor even though he allegedly had already promised the crown to William. William killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings, Sussex, in October 1066, and two months later he ascended the throne SOUR @S304@ TEXT 35
  Person ID	I49727	Valdres Slekt
  Last Modified	20 Nov 2007

  
  

  Family ID

  F18122

  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S229] Morkinskinna, 51 (Reliability: 3). [S107] Britannicus, internettutgaven (Reliability: 3).