Kings and Queens of England: Edward the Confessor

Often in the study of history a reputation must be stripped away to reveal the real historical figure (or as much as the evidence allows). This applies to the story of Edward the Confessor more than most. Far from being the saintly old man seen in the Bayeux tapestry, Edward was a typical 11th century king who took the throne after a long period of civil war and foreign rule.

In the third article of my Kings and Queens of England series I attempt to find the real Edward and discover why the end of his reign led to a struggle for control of the country. As usual, the key dates in Edward’s story can be found in the On This Day section.

You can read the full biography of Edward the Confessor at Quazen.com by following the link below.

Kings and Queens of England: Edward The Confessor (1042-1066)
The Edward the Confessor sat on the throne in the Bayeux tapestry is a white-bearded old man. His reputation is as a saintly king, a peaceful but ineffectual ruler whose childlessness left the kingdom in chaos after his death. But the full story of the penultimate Saxon king is one of warfare, exile, power struggles and shrewd diplomacy.