Godwin (sometimes Godwine, Goodwin, Godwyn, Goodwyn and sometimes known as Godwin of Wessex) (c. 1001–April 15, 1053), was one of the most powerful lords in England under the Danish king Canute the Great and his successors. Canute made him the first Earl of Wessex. Godwin was the father of Harold II and of Edith of Wessex, wife of Edward the Confessor. Events Grand Prince Stephen I of Hungary is named the first King of Hungary by Pope Silvester II. Canonisation of Edward the Martyr, king of England. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events June 18 - Battle of Civitate - 3000 horsemen of Norman Count Humphrey rout the troops of Pope Leo IX Good harvests in Europe Malcolm Canmore invades Scotland. ... Motto Dieu et mon droit(French) God and my right Territory of the Kingdom of England Capital Winchester; London from 11th century Language(s) Old English (de facto, until 1066) Anglo-Norman language (de jure, 1066 - 15th century) English (de facto, gradually replaced French from late 13th century) Government Monarchy... Canute II, or Canute the Great, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles also known as Cnut (Old Norse: Knútr inn ríki, Norwegian: Knut den mektige, Swedish: Knut den store, Danish: Knud den Store) (c. ... The Earl of Wessex is an Earl in the English and later British nobility. ... Name Harold Godwinson Lived c. ... Edith of Wessex, (c. ... St Edward the Confessor or Eadweard III (c. ...

Rise: support of Edmund, then Canute

Godwin's father was probably Wulfnoth Cild, Cild being a nickname (c. 983-1015) who was Thegn of Sussex, although later documents describe his father as a churl. Wulfnoth was supposedly a sixth generation descendant of King Ethelred of Wessex (also caled Aethelred I), the elder brother of Alfred the Great; Ethelred's descendants were passed over in the royal succession, but became prominent nobles in the kingdom. The patrilineal descent of Godwin from a King of Wessex is still being researched, however, and should not be taken as certain. Wulfnoth led a section of the royal fleet into piracy and as a consequence had his lands forfeited, and was exiled. It was left to his young son, Godwin, to improve the family fortunes after his father's death in 1014. In his day, Earl Godwin was seen as very much of a new man, who had been "made" by two advantageous marriages to Danish noblewomen. Wulfnoth Cild Thegn of Sussex was the father of Earl Godwin and the grandfather of King Harold II of England. ... Map of runestones raised over a thegn. ... Sussex is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. ... A churl, in its earliest Anglo-Saxon meaning, was simply a man, but the word soon came to mean a non-servile peasant, still spelt ceorle, and denoting the lowest rank of freemen. ... Life King Ethelred I (Old English: Æþelræd) (c. ... Alfred (also Ælfred from the Old English: Ælfrēd //) (c. ...

Godwin was a major supporter of Edmund Ironside, the son of King Aethelred the Unready. While Edmund was in rebellion against his father, Canute and his army invaded England. Edmund was killed, along with many of his supporters, but Godwin survived and pledged his loyalty to Canute. He befriended Canute's brother-in-law, Earl Ulf, and became one of Canute's advisors, accompanying him to Denmark to suppress a rebellion there. By 1018 he was an earl, becoming Earl of the West Saxons in about 1019. In 1022 he married Thyra Sveinsdóttir (also called Thyra Swensdottir), Canute's sister. She died soon afterwards without issue, but Godwin continued to gain prestige and by 1023 he was the most powerful earl in England. Edmund II or Eadmund II (c. ... Ethelred II (Old English: Æþelred) (c. ...

Height of power: support of Harold

On November 12, 1035, Canute died. His kingdoms were divided among three rival rulers. Harold Harefoot, Canute's illegitimate son by Aelgifu of Northampton, seized the throne of England. Harthacanute, Canute's legitimate son by Emma of Normandy, reigned in Denmark. Norway rebelled under Magnus the Noble. In 1037, the throne of England was reportedly claimed by Alfred of Wessex, younger son of Emma of Normandy and Ethelred the Unready and half-brother of Harthacanute. Godwin is reported to have either captured Alfred himself or to have deceived him by pretending to be his ally and then surrendering him to the forces of Harold Harefoot. Either way Alfred was blinded and soon died at Ely. is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Harthacanute becomes king of Denmark. ... Harold I Harefoot (c. ... Aelgifu (also called Aelfgifu or Elgifu or Aelfgitha) was the wife of Canute the Great in the 11th century. ... Harthacanute (sometimes Hardicanute, Hardecanute; Danish Hardeknud, Canute the Hardy) (1018/1019–June 8, 1042) was a King of Denmark (1035–1042) and England (1035–1037, 1040–1042). ... Queen Emma of Normandy receiving the Encomium Emmae, with her sons Harthacanute and Edward the Confessor in the background. ... Magnus I (1024 - October 25, 1047) was a King of Norway (1035 - 1047) and king of Denmark (1042 - 1047). ... Queen Emma of Normandy receiving the Encomium Emmae, with her sons Harthacanute and Edward the Confessor in the background. ... Ethelred II (c. ... This article is about the visual condition. ... Statistics Population: 15,102 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: TL535799 Administration District: East Cambridgeshire Shire county: Cambridgeshire Region: East of England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Cambridgeshire Historic county: Cambridgeshire Services Police force: Ambulance service: East of England Post office and telephone Post town: ELY...

On March 17, 1040, Harold Harefoot died and Godwin supported the accession of his half-brother Harthacanute to the throne of England. When Harthacanute himself died (June 8, 1042), Godwin finally supported the claim of his half-brother Edward the Confessor to the throne. Edward was another son of Emma and Ethelred, having spent most of the previous thirty years in Normandy. His reign restored the native royal house of Wessex to the throne of England. is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March War of Independence of Western Xia occurred. ... is the 159th day of the year (160th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events April 18/April 19 - Emperor Michael V of the Byzantine Empire attempts to remain sole Emperor by sending his adoptive mother and co-ruler Zoe of Byzantium to a monastery. ... St Edward the Confessor or Eadweard III (c. ... For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). ...

Later conflicts, decline, and death

Despite his alleged responsibility for the death of Edward's brother Alfred, Godwin secured the marriage of his daughter Edith (Eadgyth) to Edward in 1045. As Edward drew advisors, nobles and priests from his former place of refuge in a bid to develop his own power base, Godwin soon became the leader of opposition to growing Norman influence. After a violent clash between the people of Dover and the visiting Eustace II, Count of Boulogne, Edward's new brother-in-law, Godwin was ordered to punish the people of Dover (as he and Earl Leofric had done in Worcester, in Leofric's own earldom). This time, however, Godwin refused, choosing to champion his own countrymen against a (visiting) foreign ruler and his own king. Edward rightly saw this as a test of power, and managed to enlist the support of the other earls Earl Siward from Northumbria and Earl Leofric from Mercia. Godwin and his sons were exiled from the kingdom with his sons in September 1051. However, they returned the following year with an armed force, which gained the support of the navy, burghers, and peasants, so compelling Edward to restore his earldom. This however set a precedent to be followed by a rival earl some years later, and then by Godwin's own son in 1066. Norman conquests in red. ... Arms of Dover Borough Council This article is about the English port. ... Eustace II, (d. ... Boulogne-sur-Mer became the centre of the County of Boulogne in the 9th century. ...

On April 15, 1053, Godwin died at Winchester, supposedly while denying that he had any role in the death of the King's brother Alfred in 1036. His son Harold succeeded him as Earl of Wessex, an area then covering roughly the southernmost third of England. With the death of Earl Siward (1055) and later Earl Algar (1062), the children of Godwin were poised to assume sole control. Tostig was helped into the earldom of Northumbria, thus controlling the north. The Mercian earl was sidelined, especially after Harold and Tostig broke the Welsh-Mercian alliance in 1063. Harold later succeeded Edward the Confessor and became King of England in his own right. At this point, both Harold's remaining brothers in England were earls in their own right, Harold was himself king and in control of Wessex, and he had married the sister of Earl Edwin of Mercia and Earl Morcar of Northumbria (who had succeeded his brother Tostig). Godwin's family looked set to inaugurate a new royal dynasty, much as the Capetians had replaced the Carolingians in France. is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events June 18 - Battle of Civitate - 3000 horsemen of Norman Count Humphrey rout the troops of Pope Leo IX Good harvests in Europe Malcolm Canmore invades Scotland. ... Winchester is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40,000 within a 3 mile radius of its centre. ...

Progeny

Godwin married a second time to a Danish noblewoman, Gytha Thorkelsdóttir (also known as Githa), said to be the granddaughter of the legendary Viking Styrbjörn Starke and great-granddaughter to Harold Bluetooth, king of Denmark and thus also ancestor to King Canute. The marriage resulted in the birth of many children: Gyda Torkelsdotter was the daughter of Torkel Styrbjörnsson. ... Styrbjörn the Strong (Styrbjörn Sterki) or Styrbjörn the Swedish Champion (Styrbjörn svía kappi) was according to the Norse sagas the son of Olof (II) Björnsson, and the nephew of Eric the Victorious. ... Harold Bluetooth Gormson (Danish Harald Blåtand, Norwegian Harald Blåtann) (ca 935- November 1, 986), sometimes Harold II, succeeded his father Gorm the Old as king of Denmark in 958 (or 959) and was king of Norway for a few years, probably around 970. ...

1. Sweyn Godwinson, Earl of Herefordshire (c. 1023-1052). At some point he declared himself an illegitimate son of Canute the Great but this is considered to be a false claim.
2. Harold II of England (c. 1022-October 14, 1066)
3. Tostig Godwinson, Earl of Northumbria (c. 1026-September 25, 1066)
4. Edith of Wessex, (c. 1030-December 19, 1075), queen consort of Edward the Confessor
5. Gyrth Godwinson (c. 1030-October 14, 1066)
6. Gunhilda of Wessex, a nun (c. 1035-1080)
7. Ælfgifu of Wessex (c. 1035)
8. Leofwine Godwinson, Earl of Kent (c. 1035-October 14, 1066)
9. Wulfnoth Godwinson (c. 1040)
10. Marigard of Wessex (February 6, 1033 - August 6, 1083)

Sweyn Godwinson was an older brother of Harold II of England. ... For people, see Earl (given name) and Earl (surname). ... Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county and unitary district (known as County of Herefordshire) in the West Midlands region of England. ... Name Harold Godwinson Lived c. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned September 20 - Battle of Fulford September 25 - Battle of Stamford Bridge September 29 - William of Normandy lands in England at Pevensey. ... Tostig Godwinson (1026? – September 25, 1066) was an Anglo-Saxon earl of Northumbria and brother of King Harold II of England, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England. ... For people, see Earl (given name) and Earl (surname). ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned September 20 - Battle of Fulford September 25 - Battle of Stamford Bridge September 29 - William of Normandy lands in England at Pevensey. ... Edith of Wessex, (c. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Revolt of the Earls. ... St Edward the Confessor or Eadweard III (c. ... Gyrth Godwinson was a younger brother of Harold II of England and was killed in the Battle of Hastings. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned September 20 - Battle of Fulford September 25 - Battle of Stamford Bridge September 29 - William of Normandy lands in England at Pevensey. ... Leofwine Godwinson was a younger brother of Harold II of England and was killed in the Battle of Hastings. ... For people, see Earl (given name) and Earl (surname). ... For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... Wulfnoth Godwinson (b. ...

Family Trees

• House of Wessex family tree
• Godwin family tree
• Canute's family tree

This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Sources

• Mason, Emma. The House of Godwine: The History of Dynasty. Hambledon Press, 2003.
• Stenton, F.M. Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford History of England), 2001.
• Thorne, J.O. and Collocott, T.C. Chambers Biographical Dictionary, Revised Edition. (Edinburgh: Chambers, 1984) ISBN 0-550-16010-8
• Walker, Ian. Harold: The Last Anglo-Saxon King, 1997.
• Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Lines: 1B-15, 1B-23, 1B-26, 166-23.

The Earl of Wessex is an Earl in the English and later British nobility. ... Name Harold Godwinson Lived c. ... The peerage title Earl of Kent has been created many times in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. ... Leofwine Godwinson was a younger brother of Harold II of England and was killed in the Battle of Hastings. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Godwin, Earl of Wessex

• Discussion on soc.genealogy medieval of Godwin's genealogy and possible descent from Alfred the Great's brother.
• A pedigree of him ; not necessarily reliable
• A chart including him among the descedants of King Cerdic of Wessex
• A more detailed article on him and his descendants
• A list of descendants
• Godwin, earl of Wessex A short biography with suggestions for further reading.
• Regia Anglorum Kingmakers - the story of the House of Godwin