Edward the Confessor: life of the week

Tom Licence introduces the medieval monarch whose death led to England's Norman takeover – but whose life also left a significant mark on history

Published: August 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM

Save

Edward the Confessor, England’s penultimate Anglo-Saxon king, has long been remembered as a saintly, pious monarch – but some sources would have us believe he was also a weak ruler whose indecision paved the way for the Norman Conquest. Is that fair on Edward? And if not, how should we understand him? As new BBC Drama King and Conqueror hits the screens, Emily Briffett speaks to historian Tom Licence to explore the life of this medieval monarch – from his early years in exile and ambitions for the crown, to the subsequent political challenges he faced that ultimately shaped the fate of England.

Ad

Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra

Ad

Ad

Loading...

Ad

Loading...