In 1054, King Edward of England (known to history as "the Confessor") sent Bishop Ealdred of Worcester on an important mission: recall King Edward's namesake nephew Edward the Exile from Hungary and bring him back to England to serve as his uncle's heir. Evidently, negotiations for Edward's return were secured, as he traveled to England in 1057 with his family (including his wife Agatha, and their children, Edgar, Margaret, and Christina).
Unfortunately for King Edward, his nephew died almost immediately after he arrived in England, depriving the aging king of a potential (and much-needed) heir, as little Edgar was widely considered too young to become king.
But what if Edward the Exile survived? Assuming King Edward dies on-schedule, Edward the Exile would be about 50 years old in 1066. Would he have been able to build a strong enough powerbase in England during the intervening 9 years to secure the kingship for himself? Or would Edward still have to contend with the powerful family of Earl Godwin, whose members (such as OTL's King Harold) were younger and more ambitious? Would Harald Hardrada and William of Normandy still press their claims to England with a member of the West-Saxon royal house on the throne, and, if so, would Edward be able to resist them?
Edward the Exile is a bit of an enigma, so his character is hard to assess. He spent most of his life abroad, mainly in Russia and Hungary, so he may be seen as a foreigner in comparison to the Godwin brothers. Conversely, it's possible that Edward may have aided Andrew I in attaining the Hungarian throne, so he's not without combat experience or international connections.
Unfortunately for King Edward, his nephew died almost immediately after he arrived in England, depriving the aging king of a potential (and much-needed) heir, as little Edgar was widely considered too young to become king.
But what if Edward the Exile survived? Assuming King Edward dies on-schedule, Edward the Exile would be about 50 years old in 1066. Would he have been able to build a strong enough powerbase in England during the intervening 9 years to secure the kingship for himself? Or would Edward still have to contend with the powerful family of Earl Godwin, whose members (such as OTL's King Harold) were younger and more ambitious? Would Harald Hardrada and William of Normandy still press their claims to England with a member of the West-Saxon royal house on the throne, and, if so, would Edward be able to resist them?
Edward the Exile is a bit of an enigma, so his character is hard to assess. He spent most of his life abroad, mainly in Russia and Hungary, so he may be seen as a foreigner in comparison to the Godwin brothers. Conversely, it's possible that Edward may have aided Andrew I in attaining the Hungarian throne, so he's not without combat experience or international connections.