Saint Edward the Confessor: Last of the Saxon Kings?

Edward was a kind man who endured a long, twisting road to the English crown. History calls him the last true Saxon king, but as our biographic profile shows, there could be another title that's even more accurate.
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Source/Further reading:
General biographies on St. Edward:
www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK...
www.scribd.com/book/193657693 
www.scribd.com/book/273561636 
www.theschoolrun.com/homework....
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: www.scribd.com/book/444691438 
Map of Saxon England: www.historic-uk.com/assets/Im...
Aethelred the Unready: www.royal.uk/ethelred-ii-unre...
Emma of Normandy: www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK...
Godwin of Wessex: www.historytoday.com/archive/...
Robert I of Normandy: www.englishmonarchs.co.uk
/normans_20.html
Edward’s succession: www.academia.edu/30031791/
Edward_the_Confessor_and_the_Succession_Question
www.academia.edu/23861154/Edw...

[@alfredthegreatkingofwessex6838]

2:50 Poor Æthelred. He insisted on posing for that picture along with the giant cucumber he loved dearly

[@arnaldoteodorani277]

Your majesty is a comedy genius.

[@jasoncowley4718]

Æthelred King of Cucumber, Patron Saint of Salads.

[@jobiplakkajose4555]

Yr majesty it is a septer

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

All hail the King of Wessex & comedic barbs!!!

[@thephotoeditor1868]

Big fan of the medieval monarch docos

[@kyleclark4449]

Suggestion: Harald Hardrada, one of the most famous Vikings of all time. Seriously, this dude's life was insane!

[@jennifermarshall-craig5146]

I’d love to se one on Cnut

[@crazypato3752]

Why?

[@hinakomalin]

“....drank himself to death.” Ad cuts in. “Coca-Cola ad.” 🤣🤣🤣

[@kingsaintides7227]

You tube premium

[@MaegnasMw]

@@kingsaintides7227 Adblock! :P

[@chrisoleary9876]

Excellent presentation. It puts The Battle of Hastings in an interesting perspective. So many people clawing for the throne...

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

Not me.. I'll pass on the big uncomfy chair.

[@jimmyavpi]

But did the battle of Hastings actually take part in Hastings?

[@michaellejeune7715]

"If you ask British schoolchildren what happened in the year 1066, they will undoubtedly answer the Battle of Hastings". Such optimism, Simon.

[@blahasdirtysock3657]

When I was at school in the 80s? Yep we all knew 1066, death of English freedom for 200 years, although we were taught the normans were ‘civilised’. These days kids appear to be taught that their ancestors were all evil racist oppressors and they should feel ashamed and apologise for every second of their own existence!

[@hk3676]

@@blahasdirtysock3657 well it’s not wrong. Depends on which perspective we are talking about.

[@Caelia7]

Actually, I think uk kids remember this fairly well. It was pretty brutal. And we all saw the tapestries!

[@paulnolan4971]

Ha, it's not the US dude

[@jamesferris4573]

I am a descendent of Henry de Ferrieres, who, with his older brother William de Ferrieres took many soldiers under their banners and followed Duke William to England in 1066. Their father Guillaume was a Norman land baron who owned two very large estates which contained iron ore. Guillaume operated the oldest forge that produced weapons, armor and horse shoes for centuries in that area and also supplied weapons, armor, and horse shoes to the Duke of Normandy. Guillaume was killed in a heated joust with Hugh de Montfort, a rival, when both knights fought to a draw in the year 1040. The Ferrieres family was one of very few land barons who sided with young Duke William about his legitimate birth right. Henry and William and their soldiers followed Duke William to Hastings where Duke Henry became William the Conqueror after a very long battle with an exhausted, undermanned Anglo-Saxon army. Henry's older brother William was killed while making a charge around the time that the brave Harold Godwinson was slain. William the Conqueror gave Henry de Ferrieres his brother's share of land, which was spoils of war. Later William the Conqueror gave Henry more large estates making Henry one of the largest land barons in England. I have researched family geneology as many in my family before have. It is nice to learn much more about English history. Especially the family lineage before Edward the Confessor. All of this is very fascinating to an Oklahoma farm boy. Stay safe evryone.

[@samhayden60]

This was very interesting, but I'm finding Edward's mother Emma, the most interesting character in this whole story.

[@ymasen]

Emma is amazing :) I do not know why BBC has never done a miniseries on her.

[@hetalianotaku7103]

@@ymasen Cause the media doesn't like to take risks.

[@apeiceofgarbage9848]

@@hetalianotaku7103 fr somebody had to say it.

[@buttercxpdraws8101]

Agree. Biographics on Emma please!

[@joeyr7294]

@@hetalianotaku7103 lol got emmm

[@jamellfoster6029]

Touching for the King's Evil- the reported healing touch of the reigning monarch- lasted until the early 1700s throughout the reign of Queen Anne...

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

yeah,it was a legacy of the theory of a king's divine rights,which was mostly used just to reaffirm absolute rule by a king

[@kathgibbs2881]

Suggestions: Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator Henry VIII: The Great Tudor King Mary I: Bloody Mary Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen Dean Martin (can’t think of title ending) Enid Blyton: Author of 700 Books

[@gfilmer7150]

Edward IV: The Real Life Robb Stark

[@setsenblank]

Nice

[@67lionsoflisbon37]

Dean Martin; Little ol wine drinker me!

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

I've got a great suggestion for ya: a Biographics on John Muir & a Geographics on Yosemite. They'd tie together very well. I love this period of history.. I've been fascinated and consuming anything about these violent centuries for years. Thank you for this upload.

[@CuteDwarf11]

I love Simon's dry humor.

[@jayzadoka1691]

Finally after seeing so many of your videos in my feed. Ive watched 3 videos. All of them have matched what i have already watched in other documentary. I decoded to subscribe to you.

[@laurenmyers1304]

The amount of content you put out. I will watch you forever !!

[@birdbon3s]

All of your content is top tier, thank you Simon!

[@Andrew_alxf21]

I heard his name for the first time when i was 10 years old, and i always thought he have cool name "Edward the Confessor". I start to read his biographie and that make me found other cool historical figure such as William the Conqueror until Richad Lionheart. Trully fascinating how a name can make me take interest in history of medieval England. And imo, Edward the Confessor is trully a saint

[@pilesthedonkey]

What are you on about

[@pilesthedonkey]

Tully had a error and they prune it

[@stevesilvasi5843]

Another well put together video, awesome all! :)

[@georgerevell5643]

Another half hour of my life spent almost for free enjoying this amazing content, excellent delivery by Simon Whister as usual. And people think its bad living today and now with such entertainment? People are so ungrateful.

[@JoePro]

The past truly was the worst!

[@jamellfoster6029]

Poor Edward the Confessor thought siring a child would make him less of a saint... This 4 kings in 1066 could have been avoided had he bedded his wife and made a kid...

[@peterwindhorst5775]

Unless some unfortunate accident happened: "oh, dear, Prince Edi has fallen down the stairs." "Really?" "Yea, I had to push him twice down the stairs to do it." "Good to know. Here is your sack of gold, leave town, and never come back again." Then historians would ask -> what if Prince Edi lived?

[@--enyo--]

Who knows what really happened? It could have been the above. But they probably wouldn’t write in a chronicle if he was gay or impotent. And they probably wouldn’t even have a word for or concept of asexuality. Otherwise he might have had some hang ups about ‘betrayal’ by a wife after (his view of) his mother’s actions.

[@jamellfoster6029]

@@--enyo-- I believe he may have been impotent... Although him being gay is a bit interesting...

[@GriffinParke]

There is nothing in contemporary sources to suggest that Edward and Edith had anything but a normal marriage. However religious he was, the duty of a medieval king was to produce heirs and having a normal married life was not a bar to becoming a saint. St Margaret who was the sister of Edgar the Aetheling, was married and had eight children, yet was later canonised. Edward's childlessness just seems to have been just bad luck that that has been speculated upon ever since. He also did not have a particularly saintly reputation in the 11th century but this appears to have been built up over time to make a case for his canonisation.

[@kingsaintides7227]

Also no knowledge of the English system..and he had no real power base behind him and he consults the Normans who misguided him ...the weakest english king title 🤔

[@harryzain]

I find myself watching more Simon channels then the news these days. Everyday I open youtube, there's a new video out. Amazing how you keep this up lads! It's like I have a lecture everyday lol. Loving it :)

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

To be fair, the news is mostly just over-hyped stuff for ratings. Simon is more interesting.

[@mammuchan8923]

I literally haven’t turned on a TV channel for at least half a year

[@kenzopoe7050]

You're Enthusiasm whilst telling this historical tale kept me viewing till the end.

[@maxheadroom1378]

Cnut is an anagram.

[@mikesaunders4775]

That's why the name never took off in England.

[@pipelinepunche]

PWOSOSOW 😭🤚

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

Wasn't his rap name C-Nutt??

[@jaymatz5881]

Yess been wanting this one. Thanks handsome Simon and crew!!

[@monicat283]

This was a very interesting Biographic

[@mrwolfgramm4126]

Please make a Video on Alexander Solzhenitsyn

[@halam899live8]

Great video today keep it up your doing amazing job

[@tonymacaluso4609]

Thank you for furthering my knowledge .

[@chinesejohn812]

I love your channel and I try to watch all the videos

[@tandrewl1]

You omitted to say that Edward’s body was found ‘incorrupt’ when he was reburied in the abbey.

[@charlespawl364]

"with Gusto!" the splash is priceless lmao

[@alfredthegreatkingofwessex6838]

I can’t believe I invented England just so you guys will let a bunch of Vikings take over

[@thorpeaaron1110]

That must really hurt your majesty but I'm an American

[@snodrod420]

Quick call Uthred of Bebbenberg

[@stevehansson9765]

While emigrating to USA would be in utter vane due to it being controlled on every level by the tribe with the small hats and enforced on street level by leftist gangs and BLM thugs. The 2nd amendment Trumpsters and nationalists over there wont do a thing because the right in america is the biggest keyboard warriors in the world

[@stevehansson9765]

So i guess the west in royally effed, hope we go out with a bang and take our enemies with us

[@bloodandempire]

😂😂😂

[@quintenwhyte6660]

"🎼🎶A legend is sung.... Of when England was young... And knights were brave and bold.... The good king had died.... And no one could decide..... Who was rightful heir..... To the throne..... It seemed that the land..... Would be torn by a war.... Or saved by a miracle.... Alone..... And that miracle appeared In London town..... The sword.... In the stone!"🎶

[@murrayscott9546]

Excellently researched and presented, as always. Just wish that we could learn enough by history not to keep repeating it.

[@jackpayne4658]

This reminds me so much of '1066 And All That' - Half-a-Canute, Just-a-Canute, Barely-Canute...

[@jamellfoster6029]

LMBO

[@iwatchDVDsonXbox360]

Suggestion: Heshen. The most corrupt official in history.

[@iwatchDVDsonXbox360]

@Michael Reed Heshen stole around 270 billion dollars. (Or at least 8 yearly budgets of a Qing empire.) He is like a 100 times richer than Trump.

[@JanjayTrollface]

I would like to see a video on Heshen. Vladimir Vladimirovich or Al-Qaddafi may pip him at the post though.

[@cdeschrevel5341]

@Michael Reed most corrupt IN HISTORY, i don’t think so, he dwarves by the level of corruption people bathed in during the last 4000 years!

[@LeglessWonder]

@Michael Reed orange man bad

[@kvltizt]

@@LeglessWonder He IS actually pretty bad, yes. lol

[@TechSupport900]

Ah a saint, just like Simon Whistler should be saint of beards and saint of having 69 channels all which he simultaneously runs.

[@nipsk8667]

Both are truly impressive

[@jamellfoster6029]

He's amazing... He's brilliant..

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

he is going places,Charles,and must be fun at parties

[@cptnstylez]

@@maximilianolimamoreira5002 is he always in the kitchen?

[@chronic_hip_and_back_pain]

Heehee *69* 🤭

[@BrainsApplied]

*If you ask school children, they probably won't know. :p*

[@caijones156]

considering the state of the British educational system I doubt that half of the teachers know

[@Coys319]

Yep mostly everyone thinks William the conqueror was the first monarch, poor Saxons.

[@OTGT26]

If Endmund Ironside isn't the coolest name of a king idk what is

[@robinsinpost]

Eric Bloodaxe was king of Norway.

[@roderickclerk5904]

@@robinsinpost and Northumbria

[@archstanton6102]

So worst is "The Unready"?

[@coweatsman]

Lots of cool names in those days. Bluetooth was another cool name. so cool that it has been resurrected by modern day tech.

[@kraanz]

@@coweatsman I don't know how cool it is to be nicknamed after your horrible dental hygiene.

[@algini12]

22:11 This is the first I have seen that it was a diplomatic mission by Harold to William. I had seen more often that it was a shipwreck and that Harold was forced to swear on holy relics to uphold William's claim to the throne, or he wouldn't be released to go home. And that this was William's pretext to invade when Harold took the throne. So yeah, as Simon said, what happened that resulted in the meeting between William and Harold is disputed. I have never seen Simon's account till now, only the forced oath one. Pretty weird that this massive historical dispute exists and can not be verified, one way or the other.

[@ryanbrooke1143]

The music in this episode is great. It complements the narration well and stays properly in the background. @Biographics can you post the name of the music you use in the video descriptions?

[@fitz7231]

Simon, I love these videos - but sometimes I think you should be a tad more careful with your research - and highlight when pieces of information are contested or speculative. For example, William of Malmesbury was an Anglo-Norman historian writing in the twelfth century, and therefore describing him simply as a 'biographer' and crediting his specific insights into Edward's character could be misleading. the sources show Cnut the Great was a far more skillful politician than Harthacnut - who managed to make himself remarkably unpopular with a post-accession tax which led to rebellion within the nobility and likely forced him to invite Edward to join him in order to placate them. Cnut on the other hand was a master of performative identity, adopting several elements of Anglo-Saxon Kingship and declared himself the champion of the laws of Edgar, securing a remarkably long period of peace in England. Also, Harthacnut died suddenly while drinking - not of drinking too much, but likely of a stroke or hereditary aneurism (that or he was poisoned by the Anglo-Saxon nobility since they already had Edward around to stick on the throne). Moreover, we don't know for certain whether Cnut sent the Athelings to Sweden strictly for the purpose of being killed or not - John of Worcester is the first source to mention it, and it appears to be a fanciful elaboration on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle's account. Moreover, John blames Eadric Streona for this happening, the treacherous Mercian noble, whilst Geoffrey Gaimar blames Queen Emma. It is also suggested King Edmund Ironside died related to his wounds, or a short illness, rather than natural causes.

[@GriffinParke]

Edgar the Aetheling was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. The fact he wasn't crowned or he did not reign for long is irrelevant. Edward VIII's reign lasted less than a year and was not crowned either, yet he is still counted as a reigning monarch.

[@multiyapples]

Very informative.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:00 - Chapter 1 - A time of evil 2:40 - Chapter 2 - A kingdom smote asunder 7:20 - Chapter 3 - Cnut-ling with the enemy 12:10 - Chapter 4 - King at last ! 15:45 - Chapter 5 - Duel with godwin 20:10 - Chapter 6 - Securing the succession

[@monkeyma77]

I absolutely love these uploads. Lately do the adds are ruining the experience. I have seen four adds so far and I'm not even half way through . 😵

[@lewislewis4240]

You should do a bio on king Aethelstan the first king of the English

[@sydhenderson6753]

Alfred the Great, Edward the Elder and Aethelstan are a good example that yes, England (and Wessex) could actually have three very good kings in a row.

[@cillianwebster4886]

Cool vid, would you do another medieval vid on Owain Glyndŵr in future

[@Northman_Roams]

One of the main reasons that William managed to defeat Harold was due to the Anglo-Saxons having to fight off the Vikings and Harold's brother Tostig at Stamford Bridge and then march back down South to face William in 5 days.

[@stonerkaraoke4449]

Great job 👏

[@HeyMJ.]

Excellent episode.. 👍🏼 would like to learn more about the matrilineal consorts /regents during this timeframe.. such as Emma or Matilda.

[@--enyo--]

HeyMJ Second this!

[@buttercxpdraws8101]

Third this!

[@sneakerbabeful]

No one cares.

[@daya820]

Excellent story of Edward the Confessor

[@michaelconner9796]

Cool story. My mother’s family is easily traced to Germany. My fathers family came from England. AncestryDNA just told me I’m more Scandinavian than either. So that’s fun.

[@taylorshipman1045]

Ummmm. Your mom might have things to explain

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

Lol, I hate when I find out I'm adopted.

[@mikeycraig8970]

The Norse settled north of England heavily. To the point it was not really very English anymore. You can still see this today in the accent and place names of northern England.

[@nhabib114]

Brilliant lecture

[@stevie2941]

I’m 11 and my dad makes me watch these videos at first I didn’t like them but now I find them very interesting

[@brandonangstman]

Simon please do a bio on Rubin the hurricane Carter. He's a man who fought a system which tried to charge him for crime he didn't commit. He spent several decades in prison claiming to be innocent and even turned down a pardon because he refused to admit to a crime he didn't do. Bob Dylan even wrote a song about him.

[@Grequierecafe]

Love (this minus the apparent heat lamps in the background).

[@sirwelch9991]

My most favourite Saint in history.

[@vitorpereira9515]

One of the most. I wouldn't put Constantine the Great behind.

[@JenFoxworth]

I want to know the music you were using at the end, love it!

[@danielmoore94]

Please do one about the venerable Bede.

[@24flyingcats84]

I read that Harold went to Normandy to negotiate the release of two hostages (relatives) that'd been taken by the previous Arch Bishop of Canterbury when he fled there.

[@fiveadayproductions987]

Would be interested to see a video on St. Ferdinand III of Castlile

[@travisread9769]

This is great! I'm actually related to the Saxon kings so thank you for doing this

[@jimmyavpi]

Yeah and I'm Elvis Presley's long lost son..

[@TheMogregory]

I think you'll find that most Europeans are related to Saxon kings. In fact to everyone in the distant past as the population then was a tiny fraction of the present population. It's a math thing.

[@Oldschooldan1]

I just wanted to say thank you Simon for giving us a pause from the insanity of our present world of 2020, to show us the insanity of the past... I feel better now. Well, maybe not much better, but a little... Regardless, thank you.

[@_KaiTheGamer_]

Gotta love the simplistic coolness of the name "Sven Forkbeard"

[@_Abjuranax_]

Thanks. Much of this time period is romanticized, fictionalized, or just glossed over. Good to see just a strait forward time-line of the events leading to the Norman Conquest.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you .

[@johneddiecox741]

Have you considered doing a video on Alfred the great?

[@OzziePete1]

Like Button smashed.....

[@johnhudecek2550]

This was awesome I would love move videos about the time. I suggest Alfred The Great. Also not the time but I’d also dig a Henry II video

[@BakerFirearms]

Great!

[@michaelsinger4638]

Edward is cool and all, but honestly his mother Emma seems like a fascinating person. HBO should get on making a series about this time, or BBC.

[@--enyo--]

Cool, I like the mix of older and more modern. On the subject of last monarchs, could we get a Biographics on Liliuokalani of Hawaii?

[@--enyo--]

Emma sounds like a smart lady. I’ll try look up more about her.

[@Gav_80085]

Please do Alfred the Great, Ragnar Lothbrok, Rollo, the Sons of Ragnar and anyone else from Vikings

[@Phenom24uk]

4:41. Anyone else notice a light on the Biographics picture behind him gets covered for a moment?

[@sergeikshiminskiy2818]

If I could make a suggestion make a biographic about Arthur Wellesley the Duke of Wellington

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

Ah, yes.. the Duke of Beef.

[@andrewsurowiec80]

You should make a video on King Ecgberht

[@cynthiasimpson931]

I'm descended from Ethelred the Unready, and Simon's right - I've read that he was more like Ethelred the Badly Advised.

[@lewisostermeyer2361]

I would love to see Anton Szandor Lavey..... Edit - Almost forgot to say, You are a legend!! I Appreciate all your guys hard work!!

[@lagunarobert]

Great job with this!! Suggestion: please, please PLEASE, consider José Celso Barbosa as a subject. Not so relevant (maybe) to the UK, but very timely for the New Wold.

[@timetraveltvniles7650]

Can we have a video on Alfred The Great

[@robertsollory7475]

Henry II/Thomas Becket and Henry VIII would be good subjects. So would Eleanor of Acqutiane. Isabella, Margaret of Anjou, Margaret Boufort, Matilda, any those early formidable queens.

[@drewdormis2408]

Could you please do the Marquis De Sade at some point?

[@charllie_k_69]

Holy hell! Can you diagram that first bit? You need to team up with Lucidchart

[@NorthCharlton]

Harold Godwineson, recognized even by his enemies the Normans, for his outstanding qualities of character and person: qualities of loyalty, physical courage, alacrity in crisis, the elevation of the good of the kingdom above family interests (vis-a-vis his brothers Sweyn and Tostig), as well as his wit, his physical strength, manliness, generosity, and even according to the French, his impressive good looks. Edward the Confessor, at his worst: resentful, vindictive, bitter, vengeful and untrustworthy. At his best, negligently mild, and full of public pieties. Driven from his own kingdom, returned dragging his tail behind him, apparently uninterested in protecting his own English people from exploitation and even murder at the hands of his French favorites. A nice example of functional subversion of the kingdom and its people, from the inside and top. Other than that, he was not so bad. No doubt he appeals to modern sensibilities since he has the same character traits of modern progressive political figures.

[@britteneyp2]

Would you be able to do a video on Bob Marley!! He has inspired so many with his music. Peace and Love man! :)

[@truthclaw5]

It's amazing when you're already knowledgeable with at least half of the Danish figures featured in this video thanks to an anime/manga about vikings.

[@finsfan86]

5:29 Totally misread that name at first.

[@thorpeaaron1110]

Can you do a video on Edward Lowe

[@ivanthecheese9119]

Please do Harold II some time , thank you

[@renren4m802]

we need to bring back the usage of the words "Smote" and "Assunder" - banger terms

[@Totallyraed]

You should do one on King Raedwald and the Sutton Hoo burial, my request may be a bit biased. Cheers

[@f-animeethiopia1659]

Tnx Simon

[@IntoNever]

This is some Game of Thrones type ish!!!!

[@danichicago9140]

1066 know in my family as to when their Sicilian vacation was ended for little trip west to pick up a sweet summer house! If it weren't for the Norman's their would be a much larger market for prayer rugs too.

[@Hamilpete]

Suggestion: Richard Kuklinski, the iceman killer. Would make a great video.

[@Windkeeper11]

I would like to see one about the iceman killer

[@Eliphas_Leary]

Howabout a video telling the tale of Count Cagliostro?

[@mackcampbell3614]

An idea: Philippe I, Duke of Orléans (Brother of the Sun King)

[@tammyquilliam7310]

HEY HANDSOME!!! I was wanted to give you an idea for a video. I would like to see your take on Celebrities who look like people in old, old photos. Your opinion on the matter would be insightful or just downright interesting. Thanks!!!!

[@mephiston8522]

You should do a video on Jonas Savimbi.