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It was widely known that there was a problem over succession when King Edward the Confessor died. Many around Europe tried to find a way of claiming that they should become King. |
When Edward the Confessor came to the throne in 1042, he faced invasion and trouble from Scandinavian Kings Sweyn Estrithsson and Magnus of Norway. Their claims were linked to Harold Hardrada's claim, as they were all blood relations of previous English Kings.
Magnus died in 1047, but Sweyn continued to cause problems.
Another claimant was Edgar Aetheling. He was a distant relative of Edward the Confessor.
Sweyn was King of Denmark from 1047-1074. He was a blood relation of two previous English Kings. He was a nephew of King Cnut.
He caused trouble for King Edward the Confessor, and could have caused real problems when King Edward died. As the heir of King Cnut , he had a strong claim to the throne. The strong Danish fleet gave him the power to invade England if his wished.
However invasion problems in his own country meant he didn't make a claim. After 1066, he tried to cause trouble, always offering support to help resistance against William.
In 1054, Edgar Aetheling and his father returned to England from Hungary. They were distant relatives of King Edward the Confessor. They both had a claim to the throne as blood relatives.
Edgar's father died in suspicious
circumstances in 1054. This left Edgar alone. In 1066 he was the
closest blood relative to King Edward
the Confessor, but was too young to enforce
his claim. After 1066, he was often involved in resistance
though.
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