(1003 – 1066)
son of ethelred the unready and emma of normandy
one of the last anglo-saxon kings of england
regarded as the last king of the house of wessex
ruled from 1042 – 1066
his reign marked the disintegration of royal power in england and the advancement in power of the earls. it foreshadowed the country’s domination by the normans. their duke (william of normandy) was to defeat edward’s successor harold godwinson and seize the crown.
edward succeeded cnut’s son harthacnut and restored the rule of the house of wessex after the period of danish rule after cnut conquered england in 1016. edward died in 1066 with no son to take over the throne. so 3 men laid claim to the throne of england.
edward was canonized in 1161 by pope alexander III. he is commemorated on 13 october by the roman catholic church and other anglican churches. he is the patron saint of kings, difficult marriages, and separated spouses.
from the reign of henry II to 1348, he was considered the patron saint of england.
(during the reign of edward III, he was replaced by saint george (though saint edward remains the patron saint of the british royal family))