Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameGodwin , Earl of Wessex 
Birthabt 1001
Death15 Apr 1053
Misc. Notes
Godwin (sometimes Godwine) (c. 1001 – April 15, 1053), was one of the most powerful lords in England under the Danish king Canute the Great and his successors. Canute made him the first Earl of Wessex. Godwin was the father of Harold II and of Edith of Wessex, wife of Edward the Confessor.
Godwin's father was probably Wulfnoth Cild, Cild being a nickname (c.983-1015) who was Thegn of Sussex, although later documents describe his father as a churl. Wulfnoth was a sixth generation descendant of King Ethelred of Wessex, the elder brother of Alfred the Great. His descendants were passed over in the royal succession, but became prominent nobles in the kingdom. Wulfnoth led a section of the royal fleet into piracy and as a consequence had his lands forfeited, and was exiled. It was left to his young son, Godwin, to improve the family fortunes after his father's death in 1014. The patrilineal descent of Godwin from a King of Wessex is still being researched, however, and should not be taken as certain. In his day, Earl Godwin was seen as very much of a new man, who had been "made" by two advantageous marriages to Danish noblewomen .
Godwin was a major supporter of Edmund Ironside, the son of King Aethelred the Unready. While Edmund was in rebellion against his father, Canute and his army invaded England. Edmund was killed, along with many of his supporters, but Godwin survived and pledged his loyalty to Canute. He befriended Canute's brother-in-law, Earl Ulf, and became one of Canute's advisors, accompanying him to Denmark to suppress a rebellion there. By 1018 he was an earl, becoming Earl of the West Saxons in about 1819. In 1022 he married Thyra Sveinsdóttir, Canute's sister. She died soon afterwards without issue, but Godwin continued to gain prestige and in 1023 he was the most powerful earl in England.
Godwin married again to another Danish noblewoman, Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, said to be the granddaughter of the legendary Viking Styrbjörn Starke and great-granddaughter to Harold Bluetooth, king of Denmark and thus also ancestor to King Canute. The marriage resulted in the birth of many children:
1. Sweyn Godwinson, Earl of Herefordshire (c. 1025-1052). At some point he declared himself an illegitimate son of Canute the Great but this is considered to be a false claim.
2. Harold II of England (c. 1025-October 14, 1066)
3. Tostig Godwinson, Earl of Northumbria (c. 1026-September 25, 1066).
4. Edith of Wessex, (c. 1030-December 19, 1075), queen consort of Edward the Confessor
5. Gyrth Godwinson (c. 1030-October 14, 1066)
6. Gunhilda of Wessex, a nun (c. 1035-1080)
7. Ælfgifu of Wessex (c.1035)
8. Leofwine Godwinson, Earl of Kent (c. 1035-October 14, 1066)
9. Wulfnoth Godwinson (c.1040)
Godwin's father was probably Wulfnoth Cild, Cild being a nickname (c.983-1015) who was Thegn of Sussex, although later documents describe his father as a churl. Wulfnoth was a sixth generation descendant of King Ethelred of Wessex, the elder brother of Alfred the Great. His descendants were passed over in the royal succession, but became prominent nobles in the kingdom. Wulfnoth led a section of the royal fleet into piracy and as a consequence had his lands forfeited, and was exiled. It was left to his young son, Godwin, to improve the family fortunes after his father's death in 1014. The patrilineal descent of Godwin from a King of Wessex is still being researched, however, and should not be taken as certain. In his day, Earl Godwin was seen as very much of a new man, who had been "made" by two advantageous marriages to Danish noblewomen .
Godwin was a major supporter of Edmund Ironside, the son of King Aethelred the Unready. While Edmund was in rebellion against his father, Canute and his army invaded England. Edmund was killed, along with many of his supporters, but Godwin survived and pledged his loyalty to Canute. He befriended Canute's brother-in-law, Earl Ulf, and became one of Canute's advisors, accompanying him to Denmark to suppress a rebellion there. By 1018 he was an earl, becoming Earl of the West Saxons in about 1819. In 1022 he married Thyra Sveinsdóttir, Canute's sister. She died soon afterwards without issue, but Godwin continued to gain prestige and in 1023 he was the most powerful earl in England.
Godwin married again to another Danish noblewoman, Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, said to be the granddaughter of the legendary Viking Styrbjörn Starke and great-granddaughter to Harold Bluetooth, king of Denmark and thus also ancestor to King Canute. The marriage resulted in the birth of many children:
1. Sweyn Godwinson, Earl of Herefordshire (c. 1025-1052). At some point he declared himself an illegitimate son of Canute the Great but this is considered to be a false claim.
2. Harold II of England (c. 1025-October 14, 1066)
3. Tostig Godwinson, Earl of Northumbria (c. 1026-September 25, 1066).
4. Edith of Wessex, (c. 1030-December 19, 1075), queen consort of Edward the Confessor
5. Gyrth Godwinson (c. 1030-October 14, 1066)
6. Gunhilda of Wessex, a nun (c. 1035-1080)
7. Ælfgifu of Wessex (c.1035)
8. Leofwine Godwinson, Earl of Kent (c. 1035-October 14, 1066)
9. Wulfnoth Godwinson (c.1040)