Individual Details

The only surviving heir to the thrown was now Edward, brother of the murdered Alfred the Aetheling and son of Emma and Aethelred the Unready. As far as Godwin was concerned, this was the worst scenario. A king with Norman leanings would threaten his power. He already was the king of England in all but name. It was thought that he was responsible for the death of Alfred the Aetheling and now his brother at the age of 40 came to power. So affected was Edward by the way he had been treated by his mother, he removed her entitlement to her land and confiscated all her possessions. He had Stigand, the Archbishop of Canterbury removed but later re-instated. A deeply religious man, he promised to go on a pilgrimage to Rome but never did. As penance He was ordered by the Pope to build an church. This was called the Church of St Peter and was situated to the West of London. It is now known as Westminster Abbey. Edward was the only English monarch to be canonized. The rest of his life will be continued in another section because he was inextricably linked with affairs of the Godwin family.

He Reigned from 1042-1066. Named for his piety and his foundation of a new Westminster Abbey (consecrated in 1065). He lived in Normandy (1016-41) and his early reign was dominated by rivalry between his Norman favourites and his father-in-Law. After 1053, the Goodwins were in the ascendant. Edward's childlessness led ultimately to the Norman conquest. He was canonised in 1161. His feast day is 13th October. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, England

Birth	1002	Islip, Oxfordshire, England
Title (Nobility)	1042 - 66	King of England
Marriage	March 23, 1044/45	Eadgyth
Death	January 5, 1065/66	Palace of Westminster

Spouse

Eadgyth ( - )

Father	Aethelred "the Unready" II (968 - 1016)
Mother	Emma ( - )