After Me, Conquest

Godwine, a man who had risen to become Earl of Wessex during the reign of Cnut (d. 1035), sailed up the Thames in 1052. Having paused in Southwark to recruit Londoners, Godwine took advantage of a rising tide to continue upriver, his ships sticking to the southern bank. After his exile from England...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:History today 2020-12, Vol.70 (12), p.18
Main Author: Woodman, David
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Armed forces
Children
Military strategy
War
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Godwine, a man who had risen to become Earl of Wessex during the reign of Cnut (d. 1035), sailed up the Thames in 1052. Having paused in Southwark to recruit Londoners, Godwine took advantage of a rising tide to continue upriver, his ships sticking to the southern bank. After his exile from England the year before, Godwine's aim was clear: to threaten Edward the Confessor with war so that he (and his children) could be restored to their former positions of power. This is the story as told in two versions of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an annual record of events. A third version of the Chronicle offers a rather different account. Rather than concentrating on Godwine's military forces and aggressive tactics. Edward is depicted as being reluctant to give any response, leaving Godwine's men so angry that they wanted to attack the king. It was only through great effort that Godwine was able to calm his men and prevent them from advancing against Edward.
ISSN:0018-2753