Godwin family influence I
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 20-05-17 15:50
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- The Early Godwin influence
- Edward the Confessor's marriage
- 1045 - Edward becomes more closely tied to Godwin family by marrying Godwin's daughter, Edith
- Godwin's father-in-law to King and secured family position
- Some argued Edward chose to marry Edith
- Renowned beauty
- Need to cement alliance with most powerful man in England
- Need to produce heir (Edward was 40 at time and coronation oath encouraged him to provide heir given recent instabilities)
- Some argue Edward was forced
- Edward deliberately didn't conceive a child with her to restrict Godwin's influence
- Little evidence and stories gained credence after struggle in 1051 and Conquest
- Edward deliberately didn't conceive a child with her to restrict Godwin's influence
- Growing Godwin power
- Edward's base in South of England meant he resided in Godwin's earldom of Wessex
- Godwin could influence and control Edward
- Influencing Edward seen in growing family power and influence
- Godwin's eldest son, Swegn, was made an earl in 1043
- By 1050, Swegn's earldom included Hereford, Gloucester, Oxford, Berkshire and Somerset
- Godwin's second son, Harold, was appointed Earl of East Anglia in 1045
- Godwin's nephew, Beorn Estrithson, was given an earldom in east midlands
- Example seen in events surrounding Swegn
- 1946 seduced abbess of Leominster and in 1049 murdered Earl Beorn
- Exiled for both offences but Godwin was able to secure recalled in 1050 and restoration as earl
- Edward's base in South of England meant he resided in Godwin's earldom of Wessex
- The decline of Godwin power
- Growing Norman influence challenged Godwin's predominance
- Behaviour of Swegn damaged Godwin's reputation (King declared Swegn nithing)
- Edward used Swegn's exile to strengthen royal position in west by giving part of his earldom to Ralf of Mantes
- Introduced some Norman features (building castles and garrisoning them)
- Edward used Beorn's death to bring in Bretons, Robert fitz Wimarc and Ralf the Staller, to East Anglia
- Therefore appears Norman and French influence in England was increasing at Godwin's expense and this was also reflected in Church appointments.
- The Dover Fracas
- 1051
- Completed Godwin's decline from power
- Earl Godwin's refusal to punish people of Dover for attacking Eustace of Boulogne (Norman friend of Edward's) resulted in King summoning council and army to Gloucester
- Godwin appeared there with own army and agreed he would be tried by council in London
- On his way to London, Godwin's men deserted him and other important Earls (Leofric of Mercia and Siward of Northumbria) didn't support him
- Godwin left isolated and Edward had military supremacy
- Edward's triumph
- Godwin and his sons outlawed
- Queen Edith banished to a nunnery
- Leofric's son was given part of Harold's earldom
- Swegn's earldom divided
- King kept most of Wessex
- Edward overplayed hand - earls who rallied to him believed Godwin was rebel and about to start civil war
- Edward willing to see Godwin stand trial but not willing for Edward to take personal revenge and increase influence of Normans (might have been part of Norman succession plan)
- Edward the Confessor's marriage
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