Edith the Fair
Edith Swannesha (Old English " Ealdg ȳ ð Swann hnesce, Edith [ the ] gentle swan " ) (* 1025, † after 1066) was the life partner of King Harold II of England ( 1022-1066 order ) over more than 20 years, particularly in the time before his accession to the throne. It is therefore also known as Edith Swanneschals or Swanneck Edith, Edith Swan neck, this is a mistranslation of her name. She is often confused with Ealdgyth of Mercia, Harald married around 1066.
Edith is the mother of the most well-known children Harald. Although she was not his wife in the eyes of the Church, there is no indication that these children were considered illegitimate. Indeed, it was one of Harald's and Edith's daughters, Gyda Harald Datter (or Gytha of Wessex ) as "Princess " addressed and married to Vladimir Monomakh Vsyevolodovitch, the Grand Duke of Kiev.
Edith Swannesha is in the history and folklore known as the one that the dead Harald identified after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the recovery of the body from the battlefield and a Christian burial by the monks of Waltham Abbey in Essex enabled.
In Germany the legend by Heinrich Heine has become known, has taken in his poem " battlefield of Hastings " (novel Zero, First Book, histories ) with " Edith Swan -neck " as the main character in the story rhymes.
Progeny
- Godwin (* 1049 )
- Edmund (* 1049 )
- Magnus (* 1051 )
- Gunhild (* 1055, † 1097 ), a nun at Wilton ( Wiltshire)
- Gytha ∞ around 1070 Vsyevolodovitch Vladimir Monomakh, Grand Prince of Kiev 1113-1125