Edward the Confessor

Edward the Confessor was an Anglo-Saxon king of England who ascended to the throne in 1042 and ruled until his death in 1066. As the son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, he succeeded his half-brother Harthacnut, restoring the rule of the House of Wessex after a period of Danish dominance. Edward’s reign is marked by contrasting historical assessments, with some viewing him as pious and detached from worldly matters, while others depict him as energetic, resourceful, and occasionally ruthless. His death led to a succession crisis that culminated in the Norman Conquest.

Edward was canonised in 1161, becoming one of England’s national saints until Saint George was adopted as the patron saint around 1350. His reign was significant for the construction of Westminster Abbey, which began during his rule and became his burial place. He is commemorated by the Church of England and the Catholic Church, and his feast days are celebrated on 13 October and 5 January. Despite being considered a patron saint of difficult marriages, Edward’s own marriage to Edith of Wessex was childless.