Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

The reign of Edward the Confessor saw a conflict between the Norman and the Anglo-Saxon influences over England. In 1051 Edward banished earl Godwin of Wessex together with his sons, including Harold and Leofwine who went to Ireland. The new archbishop of Canterbury, Robert of Jumièges, was sent to inform William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, that Edward was settling the succession on him and to travel on to Rome for the Pope to bestow the pallium , the formal symbol of his investiture, on him. In 1052, before Robert could return, Godwin and Harold had contrived simultaneous invasions from east and west to which Edward had to submit. Stigand, the bishop of Winchester, was installed as archbishop of Canterbury (without yielding up his existing post), and was consequently excommunicated by the Pope. As far as the church at large was concerned, England was now in a very precarious position in law and William the Bastard was able to use the irregularity of Stigand's position to strengthen his claim to be acting correctly in invading England in 1066. On Edward's death in January 1066 Harold Godwinsson was crowned king, possibly by Stigand. After Harold's death at Senlac Hill there was a movement to make Edgar Atheling king, but Edgar himself, Stigand and other leaders submitted to William in late November or early December. In spite of the official impropriety of his position, it was not until 1070 that Stigand was deposed as archbishop and Lanfranc of Bec was appointed in his place.

See also: Anglo-Saxon; Edgar Atheling; Edward the Confessor; Godwin of Wessex; Harold Godwinsson; Leofwine Godwinsson; Lanfranc of Bec; Normans; Senlac Hill; succession; William the Bastard