Godwin of Wessex

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Godwin of Wessex (* around 1001 in Sussex , England , † April 15, 1053 in Winchester , Hampshire ) was one of the most powerful men in England during the reign of Canute the Great , who made him Earl of Wessex , and his successors up to Edward the Confessors . His father may have been Wulfnoth Cild .

Life

In the confusion of war around Knut's successor after his death in 1035, Eduard (later “the confessor”) was finally the last survivor with a certain claim to the throne in 1042. Godwin, who had killed Edward's brother Alfred Ætheling in the previous fights , recognized him. However, he forced Eduard to marry his daughter Edith von Wessex , in the hope that a child together would eventually bring his family to the throne. Eduard never married his wife - his revenge was Edith's childlessness.

Godwin quickly became the leader of the opposition to Norman influence at court caused by Edward's previous exile there. Eduard therefore sent Godwin into exile in 1051, but had to restore the county of Godwin, who was returning with an armed army, a year later.

family

Godwin was initially married to Thyra of Denmark from 1022. From his second marriage to Gytha Sprakalaeg Thorkelsdóttir , the daughter of Torkel Björnsson , he had the following children:

Godwin died on April 15, 1053 while eating with Eduard. His son Harold followed him as Count of Wessex . After the death of the childless Edward, he also became King of England. An armed conflict with his brother Tostig Godwinson weakened his power so much that in 1066 William, Duke of Normandy , to whom Edward had allegedly promised the succession to the throne, was able to conquer England at the Battle of Hastings and finally bring it under Norman influence.

Godwin's wife lost four of her sons within three weeks: Tostig died in the Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 26, 1066, Harold, Gyrth and Leofwine in the Battle of Hastings on October 14.

literature

  • Godwine - biography - earl of Wessex . In: Encyclopædia Britannica . ( online ).
  • Narrative History of England . In: Encyclopædia Britannica . ( online ).
  • Marianne Kirkland Alexander: Earl Godwin of Wessex: Anglo-Saxon kingmaker . New Mexico State University 1971, OCLC 24166270 .
  • Gordon M. Bradfield: Godwin. Earl of Wessex and guardian of all England . Strathloddon Press, Strathfieldsaye 2009, ISBN 978-0-9757345-2-0 .
  • House of Godwin. Harold Godwinson, Godwin, Earl of Wessex, Tostig Godwinson, Sweyn Godwinson, Wulfnoth Cild, Edith Swanneck, Edith of Wessex, Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, Godwin family tree, Gyrth Godwinson, Wulfnoth Godwinson, Leofwine Godwinson, Gytha of Wessex. Memphis 2010, ISBN 978-1-155-62447-1 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Amanda Moore: Earl Godwin of Wessex was one of the most important men in Anglo Saxon England. In: hampshire-history.com. August 19, 2012, accessed August 23, 2015 .
  2. ↑ The House Of Godwinson - Godwin, Earl of Wessex. englishmonarchs.co.uk, accessed August 23, 2015 .
  3. ^ Godwin, Earl of Wessex and Kent, * 987. geneall.net, accessed on August 23, 2015 .
personal data
SURNAME Godwin of Wessex
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English nobleman and one of the most powerful men in England at the time
DATE OF BIRTH around 1001
PLACE OF BIRTH Sussex , England
DATE OF DEATH April 15, 1053
Place of death Winchester , Hampshire