Edward the Confessor the Saint King
Edward the Confessor, son of Aethelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, had grown up in exile in Normandy after the Viking invasion of 1013. Although born an Anglo-Saxon, he spent much of his life in Normandy, which had made him essentially a Norman.
It was his half-brother, Harthacnut, who invited Edward back to England, and gave him a place in the royal court as his co-ruler and successor. When Harthacnut died in 1042, Edward the Confessor succeeded him as King of England. Edward the Confessor was the last in the line of great Wessex kings, descended from Alfred the Great.
| Born | 1003, Islip, Oxfordshire |
| Parents | Aethelred II the Unready & Emma of Normandy |
| Married | Edith Godwin of Wessex |
| Children | None |
| Died | 5 January 1066, buried in Westminster Abbey (63) |
| Reign | 1042 - 1066 (25) |
| Crowned | 3 April 1043, Winchester (40) |
| Predecessor | Harthacnut (half-brother) |
| Successor | Harold II |
| House | Wessex |
Life Events of King Edward the Confessor
1018
Edward is born to Aethelred II the Unready and Emma of Normandy.
1042
Edward was crowned as the King of England on April 3, 1042, following the death of his half-brother, Harthacnut.
1045
On January 23, Edward marries Edith of Wessex, who later becomes known as Queen Edith.
1051
Earl Godwin of Wessex, a powerful noble, and his sons rebel against Edward's authority. Edward is forced to flee to Normandy, where he seeks refuge with his brother-in-law, Duke William (the future William the Conqueror).
1052
Edward returns to England with the support of Earl Leofric of Mercia and Earl Siward of Northumbria, who helps him regain his throne.
1066
On January 5, Edward the Confessor dies at the Palace of Westminster, London. His death marks the end of the House of Wessex and triggers a succession crisis, leading to the Norman Conquest of England later that year.
Interesting Facts About King Edward the Confessor
Exile
Edward spent much of his childhood in exile in Normandy after his father, Æthelred, was overthrown by the Danish invasions. He grew up in the court of his uncle, Duke Richard II of Normandy.Piety
Edward was known for his deep piety and religious devotion. He developed a reputation for his acts of prayer, fasting, and generosity. He was later canonized as a saint for his religious piety.Epithet
Edward gained the epithet ‘the Confessor’ due to his reputation for hearing and resolving the confessions of his subjects. He was known for his wisdom, humility and fairness in settling disputes.Patronage of Westminster Abbey
Edward played a significant role in the construction of Westminster Abbey. He had a particular devotion to St. Peter, and the abbey became one of his major architectural and religious projects.Coinage Reforms
Edward introduced significant reforms to the English coinage system during his reign. He issued a standardized silver penny known as the ‘Long Cross Penny’, which became the basis for English coinage for centuries.Canonisation
Despite the challenges and controversies during his reign, Edward the Confessor's legacy endured. He was canonised as a saint in 1161 by Pope Alexander III, and his memory as a pious and just king persisted in English history. His reign also marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon era in England.
FAQs About the King
Who was King Edward the Confessor?
King Edward the Confessor was a medieval English king who ruled from 1042 to 1066. He was a member of the House of Wessex and is known for his religious devotion and piety.Why is Edward called "the Confessor"?
Edward gained the epithet ‘the Confessor’ due to his reputation for hearing and resolving the confessions of his subjects. He was known for his wisdom, humility and fairness in settling disputes.What is King Edward the Confessor known for?
Edward the Confessor is known for his religious piety, his patronage of Westminster Abbey, and his introduction of coinage reforms. He also played a significant role in English politics, particularly in the conflicts with the noble families of his time.Was King Edward the Confessor a saint?
Yes, Edward the Confessor was canonized as a saint in 1161 by Pope Alexander III. His canonisation was based on his reputation for holiness, his devotion to prayer, charity and the miracles attributed to him.
Further Reading
King Edward the Confessor was crowned in April 1043, and would remain King of England until his death in 1066. Although he died in 1066, Edward the Confessor did not die in the Battle of Hastings, rather he passed away peacefully and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
During his reign, King Edward the Confessor was neither a skilled soldier nor a politician. His rule was dominated by the powerful Godwin family, where peace and prosperity stabilised England. There were a few skirmishes with Scotland and Wales during his reign, but nothing to affect the administration of his leadership. Most ordinary people accepted Edward, but he clashed with his nobles often, mostly because he kept bringing in his Norman friends to court.
King Edward the Confessor had tremendous support from Earl Godwin of Wessex during his reign, a powerful noble from a Saxon heritage. He was the son of a Saxon thane, and had risen to earldom of Wessex during Canute's reign. However, Godwin was often irritated by the fact that Edward would promote Normans to key positions in the court. To pull himself closer to the crown, Godwin arranged the marriage of King Edward to his daughter, Edith. Rumours spread that the wedding was not consummated, and the King never had any heirs.
However, King Edward the Confessor was not all that weak. When he and Godwin clashed over the Norman presence in the court, King Edward banished Godwin and his family from court and sent his wife, Edith, to a convent! In their absence, King Edward entertained his cousin, William of Normandy (soon to be William the Conqueror), where it could be perceived that he offered William succession to the English throne, upon his death.
Godwin eventually pushed his way back into court, as King Edward wanted to rule out a civil war. This made the Godwin family even more powerful. When Godwin died in 1053, his son Harold Godwinson inherited the Earldom of Wessex. King Edward the Confessor gave Harold more responsibilities, and eventually the position of Supreme Royal Advisor. The influence and power the Godwin family had now gained, was unquestionable. This would lead to the future crowning of Harold Godwinson (Harold II) as King of England, on 6 January 1066.
Edward the Confessor Family Tree
The Edward the Confessor family tree is complicated, at least for the immediate relatives he had. The most notable people in the Edward the Confessor Family Tree are:
As you can see, no-one seem to have any heirs to succeed King Edward. This caused the struggle for the crown after the death of King Edward the Confessor, with Harold II swiftly being crowned despite challenges from William of Normandy. These challenges would result in the most famous battle of all, the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
St Edward the Confessor
St Edward the Confessor was made a saint after his death. He was a deeply religious man, who lived a peaceful and pious life. He preferred to attend Church and the occasional hunt than carry out his duties as King. The name 'The Confessor' was given to Edward because of the holy life he had lead.
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