Edward the Confessor was born at Islip, England, and sent to Normandy with his mother in the year 1013 when the Danes invaded England. Edward remained in Normandy, was brought up a Norman, and in 1042, on the death of his half-brother, Hardicanute, and largely through the support of the powerful Earl Godwin, he was acclaimed king of England. His reign was a peaceful one characterized by his good rule and remission of odious taxes, but also by the struggle, partly caused by his natural inclination to favour the Normans. His piety gained him the surname “the Confessor”. He died in London on January 5, and he was canonized in 1161 by Pope Alexander III. His feast day is October 13.