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Edward the Exile, born 1016, was the son of King Edmund Ironside of England who had been sent by the usurper Canute to be murdered in Denmark but had, instead, been spirited away to exile in Russia and Hungary, spent most of his life away from his native England. But when King Edward the Confessor discovered he was alive and in exile, he recalled him to England and named him as his heir. In OTL, Prince Edward died shortly after returning to England in 1057, but he was only 41 years old at the time. What if he had lived (lets assume a natural lifespan of sixty, which means that assuming his life is not cut short by violence, he would die in 1076).

What happens when Edward the Confessor dies in 1066?

--William of Normandy, following a visit to Edward the Confessor (probably in 1052), asserted that King Edward had named him as his successor. So William probably still asserts his claim to the English throne.

--The Godwinsons may or may not attempt to install Harold on the throne. If Edward the Exile proves to be anti-Norman like the Godwinsons, they may support his succession to the throne, perhaps with Harold Godwinson becoming Edward's chief minister. If Edward proves to be pro-Norman like Edward the Confessor, the Godwinsons may move to depose him and install Harold as King.

--Harald Hardrada, who asserted a claim based on descent from King Canute, probably still invades.

The big unknown factors are the military ability of Edward the Exile and the level of support he would receive from the Anglo-Saxon Earls. Assuming that he does survive the crisis of 1066, and lives until 1076 as postulated above, this means that Edward's son, Edgar Atheling, will succeed to the English throne in 1076 as a strong young man of 24 years instead of as a child of 14. Edgar seems to have been a dynamic sort of person and might have made a good king. He lived until 1125 or 1126 in OTL, so he probably would have had a long reign.

Any other thoughts?
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