Edward the Confessor: Last of the Royal Blood (The English Monarchs Series)

An authoritative life of Edward the Confessor, the monarch whose death sparked the invasion of 1066 "In putting flesh back on Edward’s bones Licence has brought a new succession story to popular attention."—Leanda de Lisle, The Times “This fine biography of Edward the Confessor is both entertaining and elegiac.”—Nicholas Vincent, The Tablet One of the last kings of Anglo-Saxon England, Edward the Confessor regained the throne for the House of Wessex and is the only English monarch to have been canonized. Often cast as a reluctant ruler, easily manipulated by his in-laws, he has been blamed for causing the invasion of 1066—the last successful conquest of England by a foreign power. Tom Licence navigates the contemporary webs of political deceit to present a strikingly different Edward. He was a compassionate man and conscientious ruler, whose reign marked an interval of peace and prosperity between periods of strife. More than any monarch before, he exploited the mystique of royalty to capture the hearts of his subjects. This compelling biography provides a much-needed reassessment of Edward’s reign—calling into doubt the legitimacy of his successors and rewriting the ending of Anglo-Saxon England. Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Dedication CONTENTS PLATES Maps PREFACE ABBREVIATIONS INTRODUCTION THE SOURCES Chapter 1 CHILDHOOD FATHER MOTHER DISASTER Chapter 2 EXILE A NEW FAMILY EDWARD’S STEPFATHER KING ACROSS THE WATER COMPETING FOR THE THRONE ONTO THE ATTACK ENDGAME Chapter 3 KINGSHIP CONSTRUCTING A NARRATIVE POWER RELATIONSHIPS REWARDING THE FAITHFUL BUILDING PEACE ALLIANCES AND DEFENCE BUILDING PEACE WITH GOD Chapter 4 CONFLICT TROUBLE BEGINS TO BREW GETTING ON BOARD WITH THE POPE TENSIONS DEVELOP REBELLION THE VISIT OF DUKE WILLIAM SHIPS ON THE HORIZON HOSTAGES TO FORTUNE CARVING UP THE CAKE Chapter 5 DOMINION LEGACY PREPARATIONS EDWARD AND EDITH KINGLY ASPIRATIONS ARCHBISHOP ACROSS THE WATER NEXT IN LINE SCOTLAND AND WALES RESOLUTION AND SETBACK FEEDING THE WOLVES ROME AGAIN A SENSE OF UNEASE Chapter 6 BETRAYAL BROTHERLY MANOEUVRES THE BUBBLE OF REPUTATION WILLIAM’S AMBITION HAROLD CROSSES THE CHANNEL HAROLD’S REASONS FOR CROSSING WILLIAM AND HAROLD GO CAMPAIGNING EDWARD ESTABLISHES HIS HEIR INTO DARKNESS EPIPHANY CONCLUSION APPENDIX 1 THE SECTION OF THE E TEXT COVERING EDWARD’S REIGN APPENDIX 2 EDWARD’S DIPLOMAS APPENDIX 3 FOLCARD AND PSYCHOMACHIA APPENDIX 4 THE DATE OF THE GESTA NORMANNORUM DUCUM BY WILLIAM OF JUMIÈGES1 BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX One of the last kings of Anglo-Saxon England, Edward the Confessor regained the throne for the House of Wessex and is the only English monarch to have been canonized. Often cast as a reluctant ruler, easily manipulated by his in-laws, he has been blamed for causing the invasion of 1066, the last successful conquest of England by a foreign power. Tom Licence navigates the contemporary webs of political deceit to present a strikingly different Edward. This compelling biography provides a much-needed reassessment of Edward's reign-calling into doubt the legitimacy of his successors and rewriting the ending of Anglo-Saxon England "One of the last kings of Anglo-Saxon England, Edward the Confessor regained the throne for the House of Wessex and is the only English monarch to have been canonized. Often cast as a reluctant ruler, easily manipulated by his in-laws, he has been blamed for causing the invasion of 1066--the last successful conquest of England by a foreign power"--Publisher's description.