Edward the Confessor & Westminster Abbey
Godwin, Earl of Wessex. In 1045, he married Godwin's only daughter, Edith.
Godwin was the most important nobleman in England. They had no children as Edward had taken a
vow of celibacy. Even this marriage couldn't prevent a breach between Godwin and Edward in 1049.
A number on Normans were killed in a scrap in Dover and Kent in 1051. Edward still had influential
friends in Normandy and he wanted the people of Dover punhised for this. Edward asked Earl Godwin
to be the punisher. After saying no to king he raised an army against Edward instead. The other two
senior noblemen, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, remained loyal to Edward. Later Edward
outlawed Godwin and his family in Flanders.
Between 1051 and 1052, Edward increased the number of Normans who advised him at court.
Edward's continued favouritism caused problems with his nobles. In 1052 Godwin and his sons
returned to England with an army
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