Edward the Confessor was the king of England from 1042 to 1066. Edward's death was the end of his time being king, but it started the Battle of the Hastings.
Edward was born in 1003. Edward had a father (Ethelred the Unready) and a mother (Emma of Normandy). Edward spent the first part of his life in Normandy. He grew up with very deep religious views, and his nickname that he gained was "Confessor". His childhood was mostly happy, but only when he was with his family. In 1040, Edward was re-called to England by his half-brother Hardicanute who succeeded Ethelred in the same year (former king of England). Hardicanute died after a drinking party in 1042, leaving the crown to Edward.
Edward married in 1045. His wife was Edith, who was the daughter of Godwin of Wessex (the most important nobleman in England). They did not have any children as Edward had taken a vow of celibacy. In 1051, a number of Normans were killed in a brawl in Dover, Kent. Edward still had influential friends in Normandy and he wanted the people of Dover punished for this. Edward ordered Earl Godwin to do this. Godwin refused and raised an army against the king instead. Two other senior noblemen, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, remained loyal to Edward, and outnumbered, Godwin agreed to leave England and live with his family in Flanders.
Between 1051 and 1052, Edward increased the number of Normans who advised him at court. This angered the Witan, a body of English advisors made up the most important noblemen in England; and in 1052, Earl Godwin returned to England with his army. This army was commanded by his two sons, Harold and Tostig. Edward was unable to raise an army to fight Godwin and as no nobleman was willing to support the king. Edward was forced to send back to Normandy his Norman advisors and he had to return to Godwin all his estates and accept him back into the kingdom.
Between 1052 and 1066,Edward contented himself with putting all of his energy into the building of Westminster Abbey in London. In January 1066, Edward died. He did not have any children and the fight for who should take the crown started the Norman invasion in October 1066.
Edward was born in 1003. Edward had a father (Ethelred the Unready) and a mother (Emma of Normandy). Edward spent the first part of his life in Normandy. He grew up with very deep religious views, and his nickname that he gained was "Confessor". His childhood was mostly happy, but only when he was with his family. In 1040, Edward was re-called to England by his half-brother Hardicanute who succeeded Ethelred in the same year (former king of England). Hardicanute died after a drinking party in 1042, leaving the crown to Edward.
Edward married in 1045. His wife was Edith, who was the daughter of Godwin of Wessex (the most important nobleman in England). They did not have any children as Edward had taken a vow of celibacy. In 1051, a number of Normans were killed in a brawl in Dover, Kent. Edward still had influential friends in Normandy and he wanted the people of Dover punished for this. Edward ordered Earl Godwin to do this. Godwin refused and raised an army against the king instead. Two other senior noblemen, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, remained loyal to Edward, and outnumbered, Godwin agreed to leave England and live with his family in Flanders.
Between 1051 and 1052, Edward increased the number of Normans who advised him at court. This angered the Witan, a body of English advisors made up the most important noblemen in England; and in 1052, Earl Godwin returned to England with his army. This army was commanded by his two sons, Harold and Tostig. Edward was unable to raise an army to fight Godwin and as no nobleman was willing to support the king. Edward was forced to send back to Normandy his Norman advisors and he had to return to Godwin all his estates and accept him back into the kingdom.
Between 1052 and 1066,Edward contented himself with putting all of his energy into the building of Westminster Abbey in London. In January 1066, Edward died. He did not have any children and the fight for who should take the crown started the Norman invasion in October 1066.