Edward the Confessor, d. 1066, king of the English (1042–66), son of Æthelred the Unready and his Norman wife, Emma. After the Danish conquest (1013–16) of England, Edward grew up at the Norman court, although his mother returned to England and married the Danish king Canute. In 1041, Edward was brought to England by his half brother Harthacanute Harthacanute (här`thăkən
..... Click the link for more information. , whom he succeeded as king in 1042. Edward was an able but not very energetic ruler, and he was unable to assert his authority over the great earls of the kingdom. Most powerful of these was Godwin Godwin or Godwine (both: gŏd`wĭn), d. 1053, earl of Wessex.
..... Click the link for more information. , whose daughter Edith married (1045) the king. Edward's natural inclination to favor the Normans in England—notably Robert of Jumièges Robert of Jumièges (zhümyĕzh`), fl. 1037–52, Norman churchman in England, b. Normandy.
..... Click the link for more information. , whom he made archbishop of Canterbury in 1051—led to a breach with Godwin. In 1051, after a fracas between the king's brother-in-law, Eustace II Eustace IV, d. 1153, count of Boulogne, fought unsuccessfully against Geoffrey IV of Anjou, husband of Henry I's daughter Matilda , in Normandy. In 1152 Eustace was recognized as Stephen's successor by some of the English barons, but Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury, fled the
..... Click the link for more information. , count of Boulogne, and the citizens of Dover, Godwin refused to obey Edward's order to punish the men of Dover and tried to raise a revolt. Edward, however, was supported by Leofric of Mercia and Siward Siward (sy
`ərd), d. 1055, earl of Northumbria.
..... Click the link for more information. of Northumbria, and he outlawed and banished Godwin and his family. In their absence Edward received William, duke of Normandy (later William I William I or William the Conqueror, 1027?–1087, king of England (1066–87). Earnest and resourceful, William was not only one of the greatest of English monarchs but a pivotal figure in European history as well.
..... Click the link for more information. ), and apparently made him his heir. In 1052, Godwin and his sons returned and demonstrated their power by forcing Edward to accept Stigand Stigand (stĭg`ənd), d. 1072, English prelate.
..... Click the link for more information. as archbishop of Canterbury instead of Robert. Thenceforth the king took less interest in his realm, becoming absorbed in his religion and in supervising the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey. Shortly before his death, Edward named Harold Harold, 1022?–1066, king of England (1066). The son of Godwin , earl of Wessex, he belonged to the most powerful noble family of England in the reign of Edward the Confessor . Through Godwin's influence Harold was made earl of East Anglia .
..... Click the link for more information. , son of Godwin, as his successor, possibly in the hope of averting the threat of war posed by the rival claims to the throne of William of Normandy and Harold III of Norway. Edward's piety was responsible for his name the Confessor. He was canonized in the 12th cent. Feast: Oct. 13.
Edward the Confessor
..... Click the link for more information. , whom he succeeded as king in 1042. Edward was an able but not very energetic ruler, and he was unable to assert his authority over the great earls of the kingdom. Most powerful of these was Godwin Godwin or Godwine (both: gŏd`wĭn), d. 1053, earl of Wessex.
..... Click the link for more information. , whose daughter Edith married (1045) the king. Edward's natural inclination to favor the Normans in England—notably Robert of Jumièges Robert of Jumièges (zhümyĕzh`), fl. 1037–52, Norman churchman in England, b. Normandy.
..... Click the link for more information. , whom he made archbishop of Canterbury in 1051—led to a breach with Godwin. In 1051, after a fracas between the king's brother-in-law, Eustace II Eustace IV, d. 1153, count of Boulogne, fought unsuccessfully against Geoffrey IV of Anjou, husband of Henry I's daughter Matilda , in Normandy. In 1152 Eustace was recognized as Stephen's successor by some of the English barons, but Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury, fled the
..... Click the link for more information. , count of Boulogne, and the citizens of Dover, Godwin refused to obey Edward's order to punish the men of Dover and tried to raise a revolt. Edward, however, was supported by Leofric of Mercia and Siward Siward (sy
`ərd), d. 1055, earl of Northumbria...... Click the link for more information. of Northumbria, and he outlawed and banished Godwin and his family. In their absence Edward received William, duke of Normandy (later William I William I or William the Conqueror, 1027?–1087, king of England (1066–87). Earnest and resourceful, William was not only one of the greatest of English monarchs but a pivotal figure in European history as well.
..... Click the link for more information. ), and apparently made him his heir. In 1052, Godwin and his sons returned and demonstrated their power by forcing Edward to accept Stigand Stigand (stĭg`ənd), d. 1072, English prelate.
..... Click the link for more information. as archbishop of Canterbury instead of Robert. Thenceforth the king took less interest in his realm, becoming absorbed in his religion and in supervising the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey. Shortly before his death, Edward named Harold Harold, 1022?–1066, king of England (1066). The son of Godwin , earl of Wessex, he belonged to the most powerful noble family of England in the reign of Edward the Confessor . Through Godwin's influence Harold was made earl of East Anglia .
..... Click the link for more information. , son of Godwin, as his successor, possibly in the hope of averting the threat of war posed by the rival claims to the throne of William of Normandy and Harold III of Norway. Edward's piety was responsible for his name the Confessor. He was canonized in the 12th cent. Feast: Oct. 13.
Bibliography
See biography by F. Barlow (1970).
Edward the Confessor
Saint. ?1002--66, king of England (1042--66); son of Ethelred II; founder of Westminster Abbey. Feast day: Oct. 13
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