Edward the Confessor, King of England
Saturday, January 5th, 2008Edward the Confessor, died today, January 5, 1066. He was the king of England and had been on the throne about 24 years. 100 years later Edward would find himself cannonized by the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the patron saint for kings, difficult marriages, and separated spouses (ironic lot these 3!).
He reign was primarily a peaceful and prosperous one. He was deeply connected with Normandy and he and his brother, Alfred, attempted unsuccessfully to depose Harold Harefoot years before he finally was able to ascend the throne. Because he had not children, Edward’s death in 1066 lead to 3 people trying to claim the throne, the successful one, Harold II, was the last Anglo-Saxon to be crowned king, as he was killed in the Battle of Hastings by Williams the Conqueror.
This of course, lead to the great history book, 1066 And All That, as well as the events of Robin Hood and Ivanhoe.
