Unfortunately, Edgar was growing up in a time when being heir to the throne of England was something that was highly desired and contested by many. Although the problem of the absence of an official heir to the throne had been resolved, there were differing opinions among many people as to who should actually be the next king. Different accounts read that promises were made, family trees examined, and armies raised so that these people could defend and enforce what they believed was their rightful claim to the throne. How much of these controversies Edgar understood is debatable, but in any case he was almost helpless in his ability to defend his rights. To the English people, it seemed that the logical choice would be Harold Godwineson. Harold was the son of Earl Godwin, an extremely intelligent man who had been viceroy to many English monarchs, thus making his family one of the most powerful in all of England. When his father died, Harold rose to power and became the commander of the king's armies and viceroy. He was admired and respected by the English people, and was deeply influential and involved in the politics and government of the kingdom, especially as Edward aged and his health declined. It would appear that, in the king's final years, Harold had more power and influence than the king himself. His already being so knowledgeable and experienced in managing the kingdom made him seem like a very rational and logical choice as a candidate to protect and rule the English. However, Harold had no real blood right to the throne, so his becoming king would have gone against tradition and genealogical succession. In any case, he himself did not openly support such a decision on his own. In a...... middle of paper......: The story hidden in the Bayeux Tapestry. New York, New York: Walker & Company, 2005. Print. "Edgar Atheling". Essential Norman conquest. Osprey Publishing, 2006. Web. Accessed May 17, 2010. http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/encyclopedia/atheling.htmLinklater, Eric. The conquest of England. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company Inc., 1966. Print.Lloyd, Alan. The Making of the King: 1066. New York, New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1966. Print.Savage, Anne. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. St. Martin's, New York: Phoebe Phillips, 1983. Print.Schama, Simon. A history of Britain: at the edge of the world?. New York, New York: Hyperion, 2000. Print.Wise, Terence. 1066: Year of Destiny. Long Acre, London: Osprey Publishing Limited, 1979. PrintWood, Michael. In search of the dark ages. Oxford, England: Facts on File, 1987. Print.