Editing Robert of Jumièges (section)

==Royal adviser==
[[File:Bayeux Tapestry scene44 William Odo Robert.jpg|upright=1.2|right|thumb|Image of William the Conqueror from the [[Bayeux Tapestry]]|alt=Tapestry image of a seated man in robes holding a sword with WILLELM written above his head flanked by two seated men in chainmail.]]
The ''Life of Saint Edward'' claims that while Godwin was in exile Robert tried to persuade King Edward to divorce [[Edith of Wessex|Edith]], Godwin's daughter, but Edward refused and instead she was sent to a [[Abbey|nunnery]].<ref name="Barlow115" /> However, the ''Life'' is a hagiography, written soon after Edward's death to show Edward as a saint. Thus it stresses that Edward voluntarily remained [[Celibacy|celibate]], something unlikely to have been true and not corroborated by any other source. Modern historians have felt it more likely that Edward, at Robert's urging, wished to divorce Edith and remarry to have children to succeed him on the English throne,<ref name="Walker35">Walker ''Harold'' p. 35–36</ref> although it is possible that he merely wished to be rid of her, without necessarily wanting a divorce.<ref name="DNB" />

During Godwin's exile, Robert is said to have been sent by the king on an errand to Duke William of Normandy.<ref name="Barlow107">Barlow ''Edward the Confessor'' p. 107</ref> The reason for the embassy is uncertain. [[William of Jumièges]] says that Robert went to tell Duke William that Edward wished William to be his heir. The medieval writer [[William of Poitiers]] gives the same reason, but also adds that Robert took with him as hostages Godwin's son [[Wulfnoth Godwinson|Wulfnoth]] and grandson [[Hakon Sweynson|Hakon]] (son of [[Sweyn Godwinson|Sweyn]]). The ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' is silent on the visit however, so it is uncertain whether Robert visited Normandy or not, or why he did so.<ref name="Walker37">Walker ''Harold'' p. 37–38</ref> The entire history of the various missions which Robert is alleged to have made is confused, and complicated by propaganda claims made by Norman chroniclers after the [[Norman conquest of England|Norman Conquest]] in 1066,<ref name="Stafford89" /><ref name="Bates73">Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 73</ref>{{efn|The whole issue is discussed in John "Edward the Confessor and the Norman Succession" ''English Historical Review'', and Oleson "Edward the Confessor's Promise of the Throne" ''English Historical Review'', listed in the references, where the various theories are set forth in great detail.}} leaving it unclear if Robert visited Normandy on his way to receive his pallium or after Godwin was in exile, or if he went twice or not at all.<ref name="Stafford89" /><ref name="John">John "Edward the Confessor" ''English Historical Review''</ref><ref name="Oleson">Oleson "Edward the Confessor" ''English Historical Review''</ref>