Edward Reighn 1042-1053 Essay

How efficaciously did Edward deal with the businesss he confront during the get-go-year part of his reign, 1042-1053? When Edward came into fix in 1042, England was in a poor state financially and likewise because of threats of an invasion and this do the first few geezerhood of his rule difficult. Edward was go about with many troubles which he had to all oercome. These problems involved decently Earls, (especially the Godwines), the foreign insurance polity and the national policy. Edward two failed and succeeded in these problems due to a military issue of factors. These include a lack of acquaintance ab extinct his kingdom and just about may argue that he was nave in his decisions. With some evaluation, we will be able-bodied to judge if Edward was a self-made baron or not. One of the problems Edward faced was because of the watery position he was in He had been in exile for 25 years in Normandy therefore he had no knowledge of the side of meat politics and grammatical construction of the orbit.He likewise had no well political allies such as Earls and Thegns to aid him with impression the country effectively and to e precise one and only(a)s surmount interests. One of his bounteousgest rivals was Earl Godwine Godwine was a politically brawny character at this time. Before Edward became baron, he had allied himself to female monarch Cnut and married Gytha who was a relative of Cnut. From 1040 onwards, he was the second richest man in the country after the king so therefore, he was in a very goodish position compared to King Edward as he had strong political allies, and immense knowledge of England. Earl Godwine played a massive intention in Edward becoming a King he persuaded the Earls to accept him. This may be so that Godwine could dominate Edward in ruling the country or to convince him of his loyalty.In the early years of Edwards reign, Godwine took advantage of his derelict position and got his family members S weyn, Harold and Beorn the position of Earls. His Daughter Edith, also became Edwards wife in 1045, Godwine had used his reason and authority to get his family members into strong position. Godwine was an over mighty subject and Edward needed to break this. To gain more occasion, Edward put Normans into efficacious and key positions, his nephew Ralf was made an Earl, and large estates were disposed to Bretons (Robert Fitzwimarc and Ralf the Staller). By 1051, Edward had managed to destine Normans as bishops, and lastly half were filled by Englishmen and the former(a) half by Normans and other foreigners Godwine and English Earls hated this.In 1050, the Archbishop of Canterbury died and instead of Godwines relative Aelfric being appointed, he made Robert of Jumieges Archbishop instead. The witans supported this decision, this may engender been because Godwine was in such a strong position that the other Earls were jealous. So overall,Edward had not been a complete success with regards to gaining power over Godwine as he hadnt managed to appoint all the positions to Normans and only got one up on Godwine when appointing archbishop as there was rival mingled with the Earls. However, change surface though Edward had got one up on Godwine, Godwine was still obligated for the murder of his brother Alfred. Godwine had arrested Alfred and killed some of his followers, he was then swayn out of Godwines hands and merely on panel a ship where soon later on he soon died.In 1046, Godwins eldest son Sweyn abducted a conical buoy and used her as a awake slave, when this was put to light he was send into exile to Flaunders and Denmark and his land was shared between his brother Harold and his cousin Beorn. As Godwine was inefficient to pr change surfacet this, its shows how King Edward did have some power over him. However, in 1049 Sweyn returned in the hope of getting Beorn and Harold to armed service him regains the Kings trust, they refused to do this whic h eventually led in Sweyn cleaning Beorn. Again, he had committed a crime, but this was of international significance as Beorn was the Kings brother. This resulted in Sweyn being declared as secret code by King Edward and his counsellors, with his lands being pass on to the Kings French nephew, Ralf of Mantes. Again in 1050, Sweyn returned affirm to England and was surprisingly pardoned by the King.This shows that Edward was very nave and vulnerable in respect with having to construct decisions single-handedly. The Godwines were an fantastically influential power in England, and Edwards actions show that he in unable to keep them out of power for very long. During Edwards reign, there was a big threat of England being invaded by the Scandinavians and Vikings. nigh of these people had claims to the throne and wanted to take over the country and claim their positions. Swein had appealed for Edwards help however, Edward falld to adopt the wait and bet policy. This policy was n on-interventionist and meant that he didnt get involved with other countries problems. In the end Harold Hardrada and Swein were fighting for supremacy in Scandinavia which meant they didnt invade England.This resulted in the overseas policy being a success. England was benefited tremendously as people were financially wealthier as they didnt have to pay surplus tax, also Edward was becoming more independent in his decisions with law and order as his decisions only seemed to have positive effectuate on the country during Edwards reign, England was not invaded, staying out of the situation kept England safe. Edwards popularity soared with the public as they were saving money which benefitted their families. Another problem Edward had to overcome during his reign was the house servant policy. Edward had to decide how the country needed ruling and what the best policies were. If he chooses an unpopular and inappropriate policy the country would be in a disaster and he would receive even less support which he urgently needed as he was already in a weak position.As the foreign policy was a great success, Edward was able to reform the domestic policy and abolished the yearly geld in 1051 which pay for 14 manned ships to be a permanent defence for the country, instead he made an agreement with the phoebe bird Ports, (these were Sandwich, Dover, Fordwich, Romney and Hythe). In emergencies these ports would supply manned warships to defend the country. This unexampled policy meant that the public didnt have to pay the geld but the Cinque Ports had to ensure that they were ready for an emergency. As a result the population became better score without having to pay the tax, therefore Edwardss popularity dramatically increased putting him in a stronger position.Edward took a massive gamble with reforming the domestic policy it was both nave and in the lead thinking. If England had been invaded in Edwards reign it would have had a devastating effect on the country . On the other hand Edward gained a dispense more support from the public this modify his position as a King. Edward had succeeded in relation to the foreign policy and the domestic policy. Overall, I think that Edward was a successful King although some of his decisions succeeded down to luck.With regards to the powerful Earls, he was able to overcome this problem as he got many of his certain Normans into key positions but because there were also power struggles between the Earls then in some decisions they supported him to degrade Godwine, so therefore they were not trusted and time-tested allies to Kind Edward. Both the alien policy and the Domestic policy were a success, they gained support from the country but Edward was incredibly lucky that the country was not invaded during his reign. Edward was very forward thinking in his decisions, and did travel a successful King even though in the first few years of his reign he faced many problems.