Edward the Confessor (9 giug 1042 anni – 5 gen 1066 anni)

Descrizione:

son of Aethelred and Emma of Normandy. Saxon restoration. Edward had remained in exile in Normandy throughout the years of Danish rule. In 1041, his half-brother Harthacnut invited him back to England, probably as heir because he knew he had not long to live. Following Harthacnut's death on 8 June 1042, Godwin of Essex, the most powerful of the English earls, supported Edward, who succeeded to the throne. He married Godwin's daughter Edith of Wessex in 1045. He died without issue, leaving a power vacuum. Edmund Ironside's son, Edward Ætheling, had the best claim to be considered Edward's heir. He had been taken as a young child to Hungary, and in 1054 Bishop Ealdred of Worcester visited the Holy Roman Emperor Henry III to secure his return, probably with a view to becoming Edward's heir. The exile returned to England in 1057 with his family, but died almost immediately. His son Edgar, who was then about five years old, was brought up at the English court. He was given the designation Ætheling, meaning throneworthy, which may mean that Edward considered making him his heir,William the Conqueror (grandson of Richard II, Emma's brother and therefore Edward's maternal uncle) claimed Edward had named him as his heir, which led to the Norman invasion. Edmund Ironside's son, Edward Ætheling, had the best claim to be considered Edward's heir. He had been taken as a young child to Hungary, and in 1054 Bishop Ealdred of Worcester visited the Holy Roman Emperor Henry III to secure his return, probably with a view to becoming Edward's heir. The exile returned to England in 1057 with his family, but died almost immediately. His son Edgar, who was then about five years old, was brought up at the English court. He was given the designation Ætheling, meaning throneworthy, which may mean that Edward considered making him his heir. Upon Edward's death, the Witenagemot convened and chose Godwin's son Harold Godwinson to succeed. In late September, he successfully repelled an invasion by rival claimant Harald Hardrada of Norway before marching his army back south to meet William the Conqueror at Hastings, where he was defeated and killed (traditionally by an arrow through the eye) two weeks later. Edgar Aetheling was briefly elected king after Harold's death.

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