EDWARD, or EADWARD King of the English from 1042 to 1000, known as the CONFESSOR. Ile was the elder son of Ethel red the Unready, and was born at Islip, in Oxfordshire, about the year 1001. On the death of Edward's father in 1016, followed soon after by the death of Edmund lronside (q.v.), Ca nute, the Dane. obtained possession of the throne, and, hi the following year, married Emilia, the mother of Edward. by whom he had a son named Hardicanule or Ilarthaeanut. Until the death of Canute in 1035, Edward lived in Normandy. Then he made an ineffectual attempt to establish his authority ill England, but his mother, Emma. sided with tic younger son, Ilardh.anute, who, on the death of Harold, his half-brother, in 1040. became sole ruler of the English king dom. Hardicanote probably invited Edward to England, where lie was honorably received. on the death of Ilardicanute in 1042, Edward was elected King. The person chiefly instrumental in bringing about this result was Earl Godwille, whose only (laughter, Edith, or Eadgith, Edward's wife in 1045. For a number of years the reins of government were practically in the hands of Earl Godwine and his sons, who were powerful enough at times openly to impose their \VIII upon the King. Edward himself showed lit
tle iodination for the affairs of government. and his mild disposition and ascetic temperament made him as little sensible to the attractions of worldly power as to the (-harms of his beautiful wife. llis life was passed for the greater Part in holy works. his most lasting nninument being Westminster Abbey, which lie caused to be built. Ile died January 5. 1006. The honor of canon ization, and the title of Confessor, were conferred on him in 1101 by Pope Alexander 111. The whole of his reign is simply the record of the growth of the Norman, or court party. and its struggle with the National or Anglo-Saxon party—for an account of which, see GonwixE and Hulot"). Wars with the Welsh. in 1057 and 1063. and with the Northumbrians, in 1065, were short and successful. Consult Freeman, The Norman, Conquest, vol. ii. (Oxford. 1877) ; this gives the fullest and best account of Edward's reign. See