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Born

circa 1003

Born At

Islip, Oxfordshire

Died

c. 4 Jan 1066

Buried At

Westminster Abbey

Royal House

Wessex

Titles Include: King of England from 1042 to 1066

dward was a Saxon. His father was Aethelred (or Ethelred), the Unready and his mother was Emma, Aethelred's second wife. He had a brother called Alfred. Emma was the daughter of Richard, Duke of Normandy.

This simplified family tree show Edward's ancestors and his relationship to William the Conqueror.

Richard (I, Count of Normandy)

Gunnor

Richard (II, Duke of Normandy)

Judith

(1)
AETHELRED (II The Unready, King of the English 978-1013, 1014-1016)
b.967
d.1016

Emma (of Normandy, Wife of Aethelred)
b.982
d.1052

(2)
CANUTE (King of England 1016-1035)
b.995
d.1035

Robert (I, Duke of Normandy 1027-35)
d.1035

Herleva

EDWARD (The Confessor, King of England 1042-1066)
b.1003
d.1066

HARTHACNUT (King of England 1040-1042)
b.1018
d.1042

WILLIAM (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
b.1028
d.1087

Early years in Normandy

The Danes, led by Swein Fork-Beard and his son Canute, had been attacking England since 994 and in 1013 finally took control of the Danelaw area. Aethelred accepted defeat and fled to Normandy with Emma, Edward and their other children. In Normandy Alfred and Edward were brought up as Norman princes and learnt Norman ways and customs. Swein's control of England was short-lived as he died in February of 1014. Swein had specified that his son Canute should become King of England after his death, but the Witan council sent a message to Aethelred in exile asking him to return. Athelstan sent messengers to England along with Edward to discuss terms for his return. Athelstan did return and Canute left England for Denmark where he was needed to ensure his rule there. Athelstan reigned until 1016 to be followed by his son Edmund (Ironside). Edmund died in the same year and the English throne was taken by the Dane Canute and then by his son Harthacanute.

Becomes King of England

In 1040 Harthacanute died without providing a male heir. This opened the way for Edward to become King and the return of the Saxons.

Earl Godwine

Edward's control of the country was shared with the powerful Earl Godwine of Wessex. The Godwine family of Wessex had become a powerful force in the court of Edward the Confessor and Edward even married Earl Godwin's daughter Edith. In 1051 an incident occurred when Eustace II of Boulogne visited Edward the Confessor, his brother-in-law. The incident occurred in Dover where a fight broke out between the Norman visitors and the locals. Several people were killed. The area of Dover was under the control of the Godwine family and Edward the Confessor, who blamed the villagers for the fight, told Godwine to deal with them. Godwine refused to obey Edward's order and in response Edward raised an army and forced the Godwine family into exile. It is possible that Edward's expulsion of the Godwine family, and a promise sent to William Duke of Normandy to become the next king of England, was a need to free himself from the Godwine family and their attempts to take the English throne. At this time Edward sent Godwine's youngest son and grandson to Normandy as hostages in case the Godwines tried to return.

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Preceded by
HARTHACNUT (King of England 1040-1042)

Succeeded by
HAROLD (II, Godwinson, King of England 1066)

Family Tree Details

Father:	AETHELRED (II The Unready, King of the English 978-1013, 1014-1016) (b.967 - d.1016)
Mother:	Emma (of Normandy, Wife of Aethelred) (b.982 - d.1052)

EDWARD (The Confessor, King of England 1042-1066) (b.1003 - d.1066)
         +Edith (Daughter of Godwine)

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Mini Timeline (Ages are approximate)

1003		Edward the Confessor is born
		Edward the Confessor is thought to have been born sometime between 1003 and 1005 at Islip in Oxfordshire. His father was Aethelred II, the Unready, and his mother was Emma of Normandy, daughter of Robert I, Earl of Normandy.¹
1013	Autumn	Emma and Edward leave England	Age: 10
		Forced to leave England by the invasion from Denmark, Emma Aethelred's wife, fled to Normandy assisted by the Bishop of Peterborough. Sons Edward (the Confessor) and Alfred followed later along with the Bishop of London. Ethelred was not far behind.
1014	Feb 3	Swein dies	Age: 11
		Swein Fork-Beard died. Canute left England not sure of his ability to hold the country but returned a year later. Aethelred sent ambassadors to England, including his own son Edward (later the Confessor) to negotiate a possible return.²
1036		Alfred is murdered by Godwine	Age: 33
		Both Edward the Confessor and Alfred, his younger brother, came to England at different times during this year to try and take back the English throne. Edward's attempt failed. Some time later Alfred landed in England but his army was met by Earl Godwine and was defeated. Alfred was captured and killed by the Earl.
1041		Edward the Confessor returns to England	Age: 38
		After a long exile at the Norman court Edward the Confessor returned to England. Harthacanute had no wife or heir so had invited Edward to return as Edward had the right to claim the English throne.³
1042	Jun 8	Harthacanute dies and Edward the Confessor becomes King	Age: 39
		Harthacanute collapsed while attending a party and died shortly afterwards. He died without an heir and so the crown reverted back to the Saxons and Edward the Confessor was crowned King of England at Easter of 1043 at Winchester. After the death of Harthacanute Magnus took control in Denmark.
1043	Easter	Edward the Confessor crowned	Age: 40
		Edward the Confessor was crowned at Winchester on Easter day.
	Nov	Edward confiscated Emma's land
		Edward learnt that his mother Emma was plotting with Dane Magnus of Norway to take control of the English throne. Edward had no choice and stripped his mother of her land and treasure. Emma was allowed to stay in England until her death.
1045		Crinan killed during uprising	Age: 42
		Crinan, the Abbot of Dunkfeld, led an uprising against Macbeth in an attempt to put his grandson Malcolm (III) on the Scottish throne. Malcolm was living at the court of Edward the Confessor at the time. Crinian was killed and the uprising failed.
	Jan	Edward marries
		Edward married Edith, the daughter of Earl Godwine. Godwine was then in an extremely powerful position being related to the King of England.
1051		Edward expels the Godwine family	Age: 48
		An incident occurred when Eustace II Count of Boulogne visited Edward the Confessor, his brother-in-law. The incident occurred in Dover where a fight broke out between the Norman visitors and the locals. Several people were killed. The area of Dover was under the control of the Godwine family and Edward the Confessor, who blamed the people of Dover for the fight, told Godwine to deal with them. Godwine refused to obey Edward's order and in response Edward raised an army and forced the Godwine family into exile.
		Edward abolishes military tax
		The unpopular military tax was abolished by Edward the Confessor. It had been collected for many years to provide funds for defending the country from raiders.
1052	May	Godwines invade England	Age: 49
		Godwine, Earl of Wessex, his son Harold and a large fleet sailed up the Thames to London forcing Edward to reinstate them into their previous positions of power.
1053		Edward the Exile invited to England	Age: 50
		Harold Godwinson invited the exiled Edward the Exile back to England in the hope that he could claim the English throne from Edward the Confessor.
1065		Lands from Pershore allocated to Westminster	Age: 62
		Edward the Confessor took lands from Pershore Abbey and allocated them to his new Abbey church at Westminster.⁴
	Dec	Dedication of Westminster Abbey
		Work on the Abbey at Westminster was either complete or very nearly so at its dedication. Edward the Confessor who had devoted himself to creation was to die less than two weeks later.
1066	Jan 4	Edward the Confessor dies	Age: 63
		Edward the Confessor died at Westminster. The death of Edward was an important event in the chain of events that led up to the invasion by William the Conqueror from Normandy.
1245		Rebuilding of Westminster Abbey
		Henry started the work of rebuilding Westminster Abbey as a tribute to Edward the Confessor.⁵
1272	Nov 16	Henry III dies
		Henry was buried in the church of St. Peter's at Westminster (which he had rebuilt) in the former grave of Edward the Confessor whose remains Henry had moved to a golden shrine.