Godwine was the earl of wessex, the most powerful man in england during the opening years of the reign of edward the confessor Learn about the life and career of godwin, a powerful saxon earl who supported and opposed various kings of england Find out how he was involved in the death of alfred atheling, the marriage of edith to edward the confessor, and the conflict with the normans. The word kingmaker often evokes the image of richard neville, earl of warwick, who featured prominently in various plays for power during the wars of the roses But, several hundred years before warwick’s schemes, another man earned the title of kingmaker Earl godwin (e) of wessex was one of the most powerful men in england before the norman conquest and his life is inextricably bound to wessex and hampshire
He was born around 1000 and his father was possibly a ruler in sussex, known as wulfnoth, who was a powerful and influential man. Godwine, earl of wessex (d Godwine rose to prominence in the reign of cnut, as one of his chief advisers, and has traditionally been held responsible for the brutal death of æthelred the unready's exiled son alfred in 1036 When the danish line ended (1042), godwine supported the accession of alfred's brother edward, who married godwine's daughter Source for information on godwine. Godwin of wessex was an english nobleman who rose to prominence under king cnut the great and his successors
His children included king harold ii and edith of wessex, who married king edward the confessor Initially a thegn's son from sussex, godwin's early support for the danish king's rule facilitated his rapid ascent to power.
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