Stronger Edward the Confessor

Leofric, Earl of Mercia becomes slightly obsessed with trade and military in the 1030s. In 1039 the (stronger than OTL) army wins the battle with Gruffydd ap Llywelyn dead and Leofric's brother Edwin surviving. Edwin over the next few of years conquerors Gruffydd's kingdom. In 1042 Leofric offers his support for Edward the Confessor if Edward agrees to the expansion and improvement of England's roads, ports and military. Edward agrees and carries out his promise over the course of his reign.

During 1045, in response to Welsh raids lead by Rhys ap Rhydderch, Edward orders the conquest of all of Wales. Upon his victory Wales is divided between the relatives of Edward's earls, one of Edward's Norman friends and Edward himself.

With the assistance of soldiers recruited from Wales, Siward of Northumbria's invasion of Scotland in 1054 is far more successful. Osbeorn Bulax, Siward's eldest son survives to inherit. While Malcolm Canmore gains control over some of Scotland as a subordinate to Edward, much of Scotland is divided up as Wales was.

Edward the Confessor in a stronger position is able to limit the power of Godwin, Earl of Wessex and his family. With the Godwins as the weakest Earldom Edward sees no need to renounce his appointment of the Duke of Normandy as his heir. Leofric's son, Ælfgar, however manages to avoid banishment and continues his father's interest in trade.

Harold Godwinson lead a rebellion against William the Conqueror in an attempt to become King of England after Edward's death, but fails to gain the support of Osbeorn and Ælfgar.



William the Conqueror and the future Kings and Queens of England inherit a Kingdom of England that covers the entire island with no separate Welsh or Scottish kingdoms. How would history be changed from this?
 
Well, this is interesting.

A few quibbles: there's no evidence (apart from Norman propaganda) that Edward ever promised the succession to William of Normandy, and he wasn't seen as an obvious heir by Edward the Confessor while Edward the Exile was alive, at least. What you need to get rid of the Godwins is to stop Edward marrying their sister and make him personally rigid enough to stand by their exile in the 1040s.

The major problem with this is that you seem to be suggesting that Wales and Scotland could be conquered by England in ten years each. At the time, these countries had their own popular languages, relatively few people spoke English and they had their own cultures as well. In reality, it took several centuries of English cultural colonialism and endemic warfare to get Wales and Welsh culture ground down to the point where the majority of people would be basically OK with being ruled by the English, if only to keep them quiet. You're suggesting that a rugged, mountainous land, full of places where Owain Gwynedd could hide out with his band of rebels for 15 years and tie down Army after Army, over a century after the conquest of Wales was completed, could be completely taken over by Edward the Confessor and the Leofricingas within a decade. And the same for Scotland. That isn't medieval warfare - that's Blitzkrieg.

And you don't even really need this timescale to get a stronger Edward the Confessor - even conquering Glamorgan or somewhere would be a massive boost to his prestige, let alone two entire countries. And then you can leave the rest to his heirs, whoever they may be. Otherwise, you're going to end up with Henry II being crowned Holy Roman Emperor of the Americas in 1174 because you've got through all the successes of OTL England in the first couple of decades.

But still, interesting, as long as you get the pacing right.
 
Edward could have promised the succession to William of Normandy after Edward the Exile died, as a way to ensure that the Godwins had no chance at the throne. I wasn't thinking of getting rid of the Godwins but making them weaker. Edward would have still married Edith to gain Godwin's support for his claiming of the throne. He would have still given in on the matter of their exile in the 1040s, just with Leofric's support making his victory certain, the defeat of the Godwins would have still been to high a price. In a better negotiating position Edward would have returned only a small part of their lands, Robert for example continuing to be Archbishop of Canterbury.

In this Wales and Scotland could be conquered by England in ten years each, but with rebellions (ultimately being unsuccessful) being fairly common. Taking advantage of their having their own language and only teaching them English (and later, under Norman rule, some French) Edward used Welsh troops to reinforce his Scottish garrisons and Scottish to reinforce his Welsh. I'm not suggesting that Wales and Scotland was completely taken over by Edward the Confessor over a decade, but controlled sufficiently that Edward remains King. I wasn't suggesting standard medieval warfare or Blitzkrieg but rather a more Roman style conquest. Dealing with rebellions and maintaining the necessary garrisons would have made Wales and Scotland a net financial loss overall, compensated for by England's greater trade wealth.

In this alternate history, William the Conqueror has a strong support base in the English (Anglo-Saxon) lords (mostly so they can retain their Scottish/Welsh lands). Most of his castle building and appointment of Norman lords is instead in his Welsh and Scottish territories as a result of their rebellions. The road building begun under Edward and continued under William results in a faster/easier movement of armies as well as improved trade. Ælfgar manages to convince William to turn over some of his ships (that William used to land his army to defeat Harold Godwinson) to the loyal English lords for the purposes of trading and defence.

Henry II being crowned Holy Roman Emperor of the Americas in 1174 is hilariously unlikely.:) However, the larger, wealthier and stronger Kingdom of England could have interesting effects. Some possible effects include a delay in the adoption of the Gregorian Reforms and maybe even the heirs of William/future English Kings keeping their French lands.

Thanks for your response Uhura's Mazda, helping my refinement of this alternate.
 
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