BADSELL MANOR

King Edward married Eddiva (otherwise known as Edith) in 1045. She was the daughter of Godwine Earl of Essex and the sister of Harold, who later became King Harold II, famous for losing the Battle of Hastings. In those unstable times there would have been nothing more important to the King than re-enforcing his powerbase with Godwine. The Earl was in many ways the real power behind the English throne and the marriage, which was to remain childless, was an obvious political alliance. King Edward evidently had little affection for his wife and when in 1049 there was a breach between the two illustrious houses, leading to the Godwines being outlawed, Queen Eddiva was dismissed and sent to an Abbey. In 1053 the Godwine family were able to force Edward to restore their lands and their political influence and at the same time Eddiva returned to her former role. With the death of Earl Godwine, Harold took his place as the dominant power in the country and as a consequence Edward named him his successor on his death-bed.