His struggles for power against Godwin, Earl of Wessex, the claims of Cnut's Scandinavian successors, and the ambitions of the Normans whom Edward introduced to English politics to bolster his own position caused each to vie for control of Edward's reign.
Hans magtkampe med Godwin af Wessex, Knuds skandinaviske efterkommere og normannernes ambitioner, som Edvard introducerede i britisk politik, for at styrke sin egen position, resulterede i, at der blev kæmpet om kontrollen af Edvards rige.