As Edward was seperated from his family and grew up in a strange land, it is said that his childhood wasn't a happy one. After Ethelred's death in 1016 the Danes again took control of England. The throne of England passed to Canute the Great. The new king married Emma of Normandy and the couple had a son, Hardicanute. Edward lived in exile until 1041. At the death of Canute in 1035, Edward led an abortive attempt to capture the crown for himself. He was recalled, for some reason, to the court of Hardicanute. Edward was crowned at the cathedral of Winchester, the royal seat of the West Saxons on 3 April 1043. According to those who compiled the Anglo-
became King of England. He was chosen by the Witan. He married Ethelred's widow, Emma of Normandy. He divided England into 4 earldoms Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria & East Anglia and appointed an earl to rule over each of them. Canute continued to collect Danegeld tax & used the money for his army & fleet. He ruled according to the Anglo-Saxon laws. He became a Christian. Before he died, he left his throne of England to his son Hardicanute, but as he wasn't in England at the time of his father's deaths, the general feeling turned in favour of his brother, Harold Harefoot. 2 years of conflict followed & eventually Harold Harefoot was acknowledged king. Hardicanute never appeared in person to claim the throne. King Harold I's reign was short & unimpressive. Hardicanute succeeded his half-brother. He was even less attractive than Harold. The English Royal Family was restored in 1042 with Edward the Confessor. His mother had
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