History Extra podcast Edward the Confessor
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Aug 26, 2020 Medieval historian Tom Licence, a professor at the University of East Anglia and author of a biography on King Edward the Confessor, dives into the intriguing life of this pre-conquest ruler. He discusses Edward's tumultuous early years marked by Viking invasions and his long exile in Normandy. Licence also explores Edward's coronation, his complicated relationship with his mother Emma, and his strategic marriage to Edith of Godwin. The conversation delves into Edward's legacy, his pious image, and the political machinations surrounding his deathbed and succession.
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Born Into Turbulent Times
- Edward was born at Islip between 1002–1005 to Æthelred and Emma of Normandy.
- His early life unfolded amid Viking attacks and political instability that shaped his exile and ambitions.
Exile Was Strategic Not Idle
- Edward spent 24 years in Normandy from ~1016–1041 and used charters to secure monastic support.
- These promises show active networking and long-term ambition to reclaim the English throne.
The Channel As A Highway
- Edward likely became culturally Normanised, acquiring language and manners during exile.
- The Channel functioned as a motorway linking aristocratic networks rather than a hard border.
