Edward the Confessor Biography

Edwards brother Alfred is murdered, probably at the instructions of Earl Godwin

Death of Alfred, assassinated, Edward's brother

Edward the Atheling becomes the last in the English line of succession

Hardicanute I invites Edward the Confessor to jointly rule England

Godwin is exiled because he does not approve of the King's Norman courtiers

Accepts the endorsement of Godwin of Wesses

Succeeds as King of England

Duke William of Normandy visits England

Marries Edith, daughter of Earl Godwin who becomes the power behind the throne

Crowned King of Wessex

The son of Ethelred II is helped to the throne by Godwin, Earl of Wessex. The English Line is restored. Harthacanute dies age 23 childless leading to the restoration of the English line

Edward finds his mother Emma guilty of treason & deprives her of her lands

Edward finds his mother Emma guilty of treason & deprives her of her lands

Edward the Confessor is crowned King

For religious reasons Edward will not consumate the marriage & will not have an heir. Edward marries Edith, daughter of Earl Godwin

Establishes the Diocese of Exeter

Exiles his father-in-law, Godwin, Earl of Wessex

The Earls of Mercia and Northumbria are ordered to raise troops against Godwin. Edward orders Godwin to besiege Dover but he refuses & attacks the King

Edward orders Godwin to besiege Dover but he refuses & attacks the King

Godwin returns with a large army & forces Edward to banish some Norman nobles

Founds Westminster Abbey

Death of Godwin, Harold Godwineson succeeds to the Earldom of Wessex

Supports Malcolm III against MacBeth

Malcolm III ceases to be Edward's client King & invades Northumbria

Malcolm III ceases to be Edward's client King & invades Northumbria

Malcolm III ceases to be Edward's client King & invades Northumbria

Supports Malcolm Canmore who defeats & kills Macbeth

Edward the Confessor & Malcolm III agree peace

The Bayeux Tapestry begins its narrative with Edward the Confessor sending Harold on a mission to Normandy.

The embroidery depicts Harold reporting to the ageing Edward after returning from Normandy.

Edward sends Harold to negotiate with the Northumbrian rebels as their forces move south.

Harold conveys a message from Edward for Northumbrian rebels to lay down their arms

The Northumbrian revolt challenges Tostig's rule and forces Edward to decide whether to restore his brother-in-law by force.

Edward holds council during the Northumbrian crisis while seeking a settlement that will avoid civil war.

Holds a royal council to try & avoid civil war

Rebellion breaks out after Tostig is created Earl of Northumbria

Edward's planned hunting residence is disrupted when Caradoc ap Gruffydd attacks the construction site.

Edward commissions a hunting residence at Portskewet, where Harold oversees construction during the summer.

Edward initially favors restoring Tostig and suppressing resistance to royal authority.

Edward faces a major political crisis when Northumbrian rebels reject his appointed earl Tostig.

The southward march of the rebels demonstrates that Edward lacks support for a military restoration of Tostig.

Edward consults leading nobles at Britford as the Northumbrian revolt threatens wider conflict.

Edward accepts Tostig's exile despite his earlier desire to restore him.

Edward accepts a settlement recognizing Morcar and ending Tostig's rule in Northumbria.

Edward accepts the settlement under which Morcar replaces Tostig as Earl of Northumbria.

Morcar is elected Earl & Tostig deposed. At a general Witen Tostigs laws are anulled & Cnuts reinstated

Edward's government recognizes Morcar as Earl of Northumbria after the Oxford negotiations.

Edward's health deteriorates after the Northumbrian crisis and the collapse of his attempt to restore Tostig.

Edward's great abbey church at Westminster is completed shortly before its consecration.

Edward remains seriously ill at Westminster as the year approaches its end.

Edward becomes seriously ill late in the year, and later tradition records a troubling final vision.

Edward enters the final stage of his illness at Westminster, dying on 5 January 1066.

Edward's health deteriorates severely near the end of 1065, preventing him from attending Westminster Abbey's consecration.

Edward remains at Westminster during midwinter while his new abbey church prepares for consecration.

Consecrates Westminster Abbey

Edward is too ill to attend the consecration of the Westminster church he had built.

Westminster Abbey is consecrated on 28 December, but Edward is too ill to attend the ceremony.

Edward's new abbey church is consecrated on 28 December 1065.

Says to Harold on his deathbed, "I commend Edith & all the Kingdom to your protection". Death of Edward the Confessor

Falls into a coma, dreams the Anglo-Saxons will be consumed by fire & sword

Falls into a coma, dreams the Anglo-Saxons will be consumed by fire & sword

Edward tells Harold "I commend Edith & all the Kingdom to your protection"

Edward's new Westminster Abbey is consecrated while the king remains gravely ill and unable to attend.

Present at the consecration of the new abbey church of Westminster, last public act

The Bayeux Tapestry depicts the death and funeral of Edward the Confessor.

Death of Edward the Confessor

Achieved by Henry II & the monks of Westminster Abbey, where Edward Is buried. A bull of canonization is issued by Alexander III