Edward the Confessor Harthacnut, but a diploma issued by Harthacnut in 1042 describes him as the king's brother. Following Harthacnut's death on 8 June 1042, Godwin, the most powerful of the English earls, supported Edward, who succeeded to the throne. The "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" describes the popularity he enjoyed at his accession – "before he [Harthacnut] was buried, all the people chose Edward as king in London." Edward was crowned at the cathedral of Winchester, the royal seat of the West Saxons, on 3 April 1043. Edward complained that his mother had "done less for him than he wanted before he became king, and
Iste confessor Noster hinc illi chorus obsequentem // Concinit laudem, celebresque palmas; 5 Sit salus illi, decus, atque virtus, // Qui super cæli solio coruscans, </poem> This confessor of the Lord honouring <poem> 1 This confessor of the Lord, honouring // whom, piously people praise worldwide [If it is not the day of his death, the last line is changed to:] 2 Who holy, prudent, humble, modest // led a sober life without sin 3 On account of whose merit, frequently // sick limbs, from many places, languishing 4 Hence our choir, praying to him, sing praise (about his) famous victories 5