Unfortunately, Edgar was growing up in a time where being heir to the throne of England was something highly desired and contested by many. Despite the fact that the issue of no official heir to the throne has been resolved, many people have expressed differing opinions as to who the next king should actually be. Different accounts indicate that promises were made, family trees examined, and armies raised so that these people could defend and enforce what they believed to be their rightful claim to the throne. How much of these conflicts Edgar understood is debatable, but he was in any case almost powerless in his ability to defend his own right. 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 served as viceroy to many English monarchs, making his family one of the most powerful in all of England. On the death of his father, Harold rose to power and became commander of the armies and viceroy to the king. 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 later years of the king's life, Harold had more power and influence than the king himself. His knowledge and experience in running the kingdom made him a very rational and logical choice as a candidate to protect and govern the English. However, Harold had no real claim to the throne by blood, so his becoming king would go against tradition and genealogical succession. In any case, he himself did not campaign for such a decision. In the middle of a paper......: The History hidden in the Bayeux Tapestry. New York, New York: Walker & Company, 2005. Print. “Edgar Atheling.” Norman conquest unavoidable. Éditions Osprey, 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 Creation 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 End 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.