English monarch and Saint. He was the son of Aethelred II and his second queen, Emma, and half-brother of King Edmund Ironside and King Hardicanute. He spent much of his early years in Normandy, persuing his interest in all things religious. Upon the sudden death of King Hardicanute in 1042, Edward was proclaimed king, and was crowned at Winchester Cathedral on April 3, 1043. In order to please the people and cement good relations with Godwine of Wessex, the most powerful political noble, Edward married Godwine's daughter Edith on January 23, 1045. Godwine hoped his daughter would bear the king's heir, but as Edward had taken a vow of chastity, the relationship was more like that of brother and sister, and the marriage was childless. Edward surrounded himself with Norman favorites, and was greatly influenced by them, which caused great displeasure among the Saxon nobles, particularly Godwine. Godwine and his son took every opportunity to undermine the Norman favorites, and Edward retaliated by banishing the Godwine family and confining his wife to the convent at Wherwell. Having warded off political threats, England during the last 15 years of Edward's reign was peaceful and prosperous with a growing population. Edward was responsible for the building of Westminster Abbey, as well as several other churches. He died at the age of 64, and was canonized in 1161 by Pope Alexander III. His feast day is October 13.

English monarch and Saint. He was the son of Aethelred II and his second queen, Emma, and half-brother of King Edmund Ironside and King Hardicanute. He spent much of his early years in Normandy, persuing his interest in all things religious. Upon the sudden death of King Hardicanute in 1042, Edward was proclaimed king, and was crowned at Winchester Cathedral on April 3, 1043. In order to please the people and cement good relations with Godwine of Wessex, the most powerful political noble, Edward married Godwine's daughter Edith on January 23, 1045. Godwine hoped his daughter would bear the king's heir, but as Edward had taken a vow of chastity, the relationship was more like that of brother and sister, and the marriage was childless. Edward surrounded himself with Norman favorites, and was greatly influenced by them, which caused great displeasure among the Saxon nobles, particularly Godwine. Godwine and his son took every opportunity to undermine the Norman favorites, and Edward retaliated by banishing the Godwine family and confining his wife to the convent at Wherwell. Having warded off political threats, England during the last 15 years of Edward's reign was peaceful and prosperous with a growing population. Edward was responsible for the building of Westminster Abbey, as well as several other churches. He died at the age of 64, and was canonized in 1161 by Pope Alexander III. His feast day is October 13.

Bio by: Kristen Conrad