Welcome to the British History Podcast. My name is Jamie and this is Episode 371, Make It Ambition.

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the British History Podcast.com for about the price of a latte per month. And thank you very

much to John, Tyler, and Anne for signing up already. Godwin was dead, and now Harold

Godwinson found himself leading the family. Befitting this new role, he was due to inherit

the wealthy and politically potent Earl Dum of Wessex, his father's Earl Dum. And according

to the Vita Edwardi, the kingdom rejoiced at Harold's impending promotion. And that's

because Harold, like his father, was popular in England. Or at least we can be fairly certain

that he was popular in Southern England. He even had a relatively good relationship with

King Edward, considering that Harold was still a Godwin. And I think that's because the

House of Godwin was supremely powerful. And at this point, few could deny that. As they

had just won a conflict with the crown, that everyone was being very careful to not call

a civil war. But it sure looked like a civil war.

I mean, the crown had thrown everything it had at the Godwins. The Northumbrians, the

Mercians, the Normans, Archbishop's, everything. And in the end, the crown still lost. And Edward

was forced to reinstate Godwin's entire house, and even welcome his daughter Edith back

into his bed chamber. This family was so powerful that they had just finished bearing Godwin

himself at the resting site of the old kings of Wessex. Everybody knew that Godwins placed

in England. And the Godwins at this point didn't feel any need to be subtle about it.

But while the crown and Harold weren't at war, it's pretty clear that King Edward

...