General Notes

Edward the Confessor (1002?-1066), king of England (1042-1066), son of King Ethelred the Unready. During most of the rule of the Danish kings of England who followed Canute II, Edward lived at the court of the dukes of Normandy. In 1041, Hardecanute invited Edward to England, and the following year Edward succeeded to the English throne, largely because of the support of Godwin, Earl of Wessex. Edward married Godwin's daughter Edith but soon gave his favor to the enemies of Godwin, who was harassed and for a brief time exiled. Perhaps because of Godwin's popularity in England, a reconciliation was effected about 1052. Godwin's son Harold, later Harold II of England, became one of Edward's advisers, and another son, Tostig, became his favorite. In 1055, Edward made Tostig earl of Northumbria, but the earl's rule was so oppressive that a rebellion broke out in 1065, and Edward was forced to exile him. Thereafter, Edward's health failed, and he was unable to attend the consecration of Westminster Abbey, which he had founded. He was succeeded by Harold II, the last Saxon king of England. Less than a century after his death, Edward was canonized.

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