- 1042-1066: King of England
Edward the Confessor, King of England, was born before 1005 to Æthelred the Unready (c968-1016) and Emma of Normandy (c985-1052) and died January 1066 of unspecified causes. He married Edith of Wessex (c1026-1075) 23 January 1045 JL .
Biography
King Edward the Confessor was a medieval English monarch who ruled from 1042 until his death in 1066. He is known for his devotion to the Church, his patronage of the arts, and his efforts to bring stability and peace to England during a time of political turmoil. Early Life: Edward was born in 1003, the son of Æthelred the Unready and his Norman wife, Emma of Normandy. He spent much of his youth in exile in Normandy, where he developed a close relationship with his Norman relatives. In 1041, Edward was invited back to England by the powerful Earl Godwin of Wessex, who had designs on the throne.
Reign as King:
Edward ascended to the throne in 1042 after the death of his half-brother, Harthacnut. He was a deeply religious man who made the construction of Westminster Abbey a priority during his reign. He also brought several Norman advisors to his court, which caused tensions with the native English nobility.
One of Edward's most notable accomplishments was his successful defense of England against invasion by the King of Norway, Harald Hardrada, in 1066.
Saintly Reputation:
Edward was known for his piety and religious devotion, and after his death, he was venerated as a saint. Many miracles were attributed to him, and he was canonized by the Church in 1161. He is the only English monarch to be canonized and is known as Saint Edward the Confessor.
Marriage and Children
Edith of Wessex (c1026-1075) (m. 1045): Edith was the daughter of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, and was related to Edward through her mother, Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, who was a Danish noblewoman. Edward and Edith were married in 1045, and she was crowned Queen of England in 1046. Edith was known for her piety and her support of the Church, and she remained loyal to Edward even after his death.
Edward is not known to have had any children. This lack of heirs was a major factor in the succession crisis that followed his death, as several claimants vied for the throne, ultimately resulting in the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Æthelstan of England (bef993-1014) | |||
| Ecgberht of England (bef993-1005) | |||
| Edmund II Ironside of England (bef993-1016) | 989 | 30 November 1016 | Ealdgyth (c992-aft1016) |
| Eadred Æþeling of England (-c1012) | |||
| Eadwig England (bef997-1017) | |||
| Edgar of England (bef1001-c1012) | |||
| Eadgyth of England (bef993) | |||
| Ælfgifu of England (c987) | 987 | Uchtred, Earl of Northumberland (c955-1018) | |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Edward the Confessor of England (bef1005-1066) | 1005 | January 1066 | Edith of Wessex (c1026-1075) |
| Goda of England (1004-1055) | 1004 England | 1049 England | Drogo of Mantes (996-1035) Eustache II de Boulogne (c1017-1087) |
| Ælfred Æþeling of England (-c1036) | |||
Legacy:
Edward's reign is often viewed as a transitional period between the Anglo-Saxon and Norman eras of English history. He was a significant figure in the development of Westminster Abbey, which became one of the most important religious and cultural centers of medieval England. Edward also played a role in the development of the English common law system, and several of his legal reforms influenced later English legal traditions.
See Also
Bibliography
- Barlow, Frank (1965). "Edward the Confessor's Early Life, Character and Attitudes". The English Historical Review 80 (315): 225–251. DOI:10.1093/ehr/LXXX.CCCXV.225.
- Barlow, Frank (1997). Edward the Confessor. London: Yale University Press.
- (2020) "The earliest arbitration treaty? A reassessment of the Anglo-Norman treaty of 991*". Historical Research 93 (260): 189–204. DOI:10.1093/hisres/htaa001. ISSN 0950-3471.
- Bosworth, Joseph; Toller, T. N. (1882). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Oxford: Clarenden. https://archive.org/details/anglosaxondictio00bosw/page/780/mode/2up.
- Florence (of Worcester) (1854). The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester: With the Two Continuations; Comprising Annals of English History, from the Departure of the Romans to the Reign of Edward I.. London: Henry G. Bohn. https://archive.org/details/chronicleofflore00flor/page/106/mode/2up/search/graceful+manners.
- Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S. et al., eds (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd with corrections ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
External Links
- wikipedia:en:Edward the Confessor
- Edward the Confessor, King of England at thePeerage
- Edward the Confessor, King of England - Geni.com
- Edward the Confessor, King of England at Find A Grave
- Edward the Confessor at the official website of the British monarchy
- Edward 15 at Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England
- Westminster Abbey: Edward the Confessor and Edith
- Steven Muhlberger's 'Edward the Confessor and his earls'
- BBC History: Edward the Confessor
- BBC News: Ancient royal tomb is uncovered
- Life of St Edward the Confessor, Cambridge Digital Library
Ancestry Trees
Contemporary References Sources
Some of the best contemporary sources for his life include:
- The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - This is a collection of annals in Old English that were kept from the 9th to the 12th century. The Chronicle contains several entries about Æthelred the Unready, including his accession to the throne, his various campaigns against the Vikings, and his eventual exile. The annals for the years 1042 to 1066 provide valuable information about Edward's reign, including his military campaigns, legal reforms, and relations with the Church and the nobility.
- The Bayeux Tapestry: This is an embroidered linen cloth that depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, including the Battle of Hastings. While the tapestry was likely commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, who was William the Conqueror's half-brother, it provides a valuable contemporary source for the events of Edward's reign and the Norman Conquest.
- The Vita Ædwardi Regis: This is a hagiographic account of Edward's life and reign, written shortly after his death by an anonymous monk at Westminster Abbey. The account is heavily influenced by Edward's reputation as a saint and emphasizes his piety and religious devotion.
- Domesday Book: This is a survey of England conducted in 1086, a few decades after Edward's death, by order of William the Conqueror. While it does not provide direct information about Edward's life, it does offer valuable insights into the state of England at the time of his death and the changes brought about by the Norman Conquest.
Royal Succession Charts
Edward the Confessor of England (bef1005-1066) Born: c. 1003 Died: 4 or 5 January 1066
| ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Harthacnut |
King of the English 1042–1066 |
Succeeded by Harold II |
References
Footnotes (including sources)
| ¶ Death |
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