King Edward’s WorldThe accession of Edward the Confessor in 1042 saw the end of Danish rule in England. However, his reign was marred by growing tensions between the pro-Norman court and the Anglo-Saxon earls – the native powerbrokers. Their squabbles threatened to undermine the stability of the realm. Yet, advances made in the royal administration highlighted an increasingly powerful and wealthy monarchy.

Despite the best efforts of Queen Emma, Edward’s mother, his kingship was not unchallenged. Until 1047, there was an ever-present danger of invasion by King Magnus of Norway, Magnus ha overthrown Svein Estrithson, the King of Denmark in 1047, raising the prospect of turning the resources of the two kingdoms against England. This threat receded with the death of Magnus soon after.

In 1045, Edward’s marriage to Edith, the daughter of Earl Godwin, was symbolic of the internal challenges he faced. Most of the native magnates, both among the nobility and clergy, had power bases more secure than his own. Earl Godwin was the strongest among them and probably the richest man in the country. The influential pro-Norman party in Edward’s entourage counterbalanced his, also symbolizing his Norman heritage as the grandson of Duke Richard the Fearless.

Struggle for power

Hidden tension surfaced over the archbishopric of Canterbury in 1051, Earl Godwin’s partisans sought to have their candidate elected to Canterbury. Instead, Edward appointed one of his own Norman supporters, Robert of Jumieges who had been the Bishop of London. Seeing his position threatened, Earl Godwin began to seek allies elsewhere. The marriage of his son, Tostig to Judith, daughter of Baldwin, the Count of Flanders, saw the start of a strong alliance against Edward.

Earl Goldwin was briefly exiled to Baldwin’s court in 1051, following accusations of insubordination against the King. The following year Godwin returned to England with a strong force, inducing Edward to pardon him. Subsequently Archbishop Robert of Jumieges, who had been appointed by Edward, was

unceremoniously removed from the see of Canterbury and replaced by Stigand, a former royal chaplain, loyal to Earl Godwin. In 1055, Earl Died and was succeeded in the earldom of Wessex by his son Harold.

Although the kingdom was largely peaceful for the next 12 years, Edward embarked on two military campaigns. The first was against Scotland in 1054, when Earl Siward of Northumbria supported Malcom III of Scotland’s successful bid to seize the Scottish throne from Macbeth, the reigning king. The other, between 1055 and 1062, was against Guffydd ap Llywelun, the King of Wales.