This text is a fragment from the ¨Anglo-Saxon Chronicle¨ which is a historical

compilation written in annals in 9thcentury. The author, who is unknown, uses

vernacular languages. There are nine copies of this compilation, and this fragment is
exactly from The Worcester Chronicle, written in 11th century. We can divide the text
into two parts, the first one narrates about King Edward, the son of Elthered I and
Emma of Normandy. In the second part of the text is narrated about the legitimate
successor and the last Saxon King from the House of Wessex, Harold Godwinson.

This chronicle is so relevant because is the single and most important compilation about
the Anglo-Saxon period from the end of Roman rule to the conquest of the Normans.

On historical background, during the reign of Aetheldred II ¨the unready¨ took place the
Battle of Maldon in 991, where the Anglo-Saxons were defeated, and they had to pay to
Danes as tribute ¨the danegeld¨ to keep the peace. A few years later, exactly in 1013, the
King of Denmark, Sweyn invaded England and was auto proclaimed King, so Aethelred
and his family had to go to Normandy and had to leave the isle. Three years later, Cnut,
the new king and son of Sweyn got married with Emma and became king of Norway in
1027 at the same time. Cnut was succeeded by his sons, and they were succeeded by
Edward, son of Aetheldred, so the Anglo-Saxon power came back. Edwuard known as
¨the confessor¨ reestablished the Wessex´s house in 1042. After his dead in 1066, the
Earl of Wessex, Harold II was proclaimed king because Edward hadn´t sons and he had
desire that Harold followed reigning.

Regarding the text, the first fragment talks about King Edward the Confessor, who
ordered the building of Westminister Cathedral to the praised of God, and it must have
to be consecrated (came to Westminister at midwinter), line 1. Midwinter refers to the
25th of December. Here is reflected the saints who Edward wanted to praise (God, and of
St. Peter and of all God´s saints. In the same paragraph, we can see references to of
bible testaments: (and the church-hallowing was on Childermas-day (Dec. 28 th), line 3.
Here, ¨church-hallowing¨ means the consecration of a church building, in this case, the
cathedral or how is mentioned in the text, ¨the minster¨. Edward the Confessor died the
5th of January, exactly the Epiphany Day, and the following day he was buried. (he died
on Twelfth-day eve), line 4.

The next paragraph talks about the features of the recently dead Edward. He went to
heaven because he was devoted of God and he had got a holy spirit, so he also got the
grace of God: (sent his soothfast soul to Christ, his holy spirit into God´s protection),
lines 8-9. He was an ideal king (kingly majesty) who reigned for 24 years (four and
twenty winters numbered), line 12. We can see an example of ¨Comitatus¨ in the next
section of this paragraph: (loyally obeyed his over-lord), line 17, where all people
praised to the King Edward.

In the last paragraph, after the death of the king, the author narrates the legitimate
successor of Edward, Harold, earl of Wessex (Harold consecrated king), line 19. He was
consecrated at the same place where Edward die, In Westminister. Harold travelled
from York to Westministed in 1066 after the midwinter (25 th December). In the next
line, we can see a date (April 16th) as (day xvi kal. May). It refers to the (Kalendas
Maias), the Roman calendar. Also, Harold had to face against the Vikings led by
William ¨the conqueror¨, but defeated them in the same year, exactly in September, and
in the last section of the paragraph is described a little bit of The Battle of Stamford
Bridge, where finally the brother of Harold, Tostig, died.

As conclusion, the fragment is divided in two parts where is described King Edward and
his religiousness and his successor, Harold, who was the last king in the Anglo-Saxon
dynasty. Despite defeat Vikings in Stamford Bridge´s battle, then William of Normandy
defeated Harold and killed him in the Battle of Hastings, so the Saxon period ended, and
the new dynasty arrived to England, the Normans.