Edward III

November 13, 1312 - June 21, 1377. King of England 1327-1377.

Life

Edward III was born as the eldest son of Edward II and Isabella of France on 13 November 1312. He became King of England at the age of 14 after his father was deposed and executed. His guardian was Henry, Earl of Lancaster, but actually it was Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer who ruled the country for the following four years. Edward assumed government in 1330 when he and some of his followers invaded Nottingham Castle and took Mortimer prisoner. Mortimer was later executed and Isabella was exiled from court.

Edward married his cousin Philippa of Hainault in 1328. The couple had twelve children of which nine survived. Two of his sons, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Edmund of Langley, Duke of York, became the founders of the houses York and Lancaster.

Edward founded the Order of the Garter in 1348.

After the death of Philippa Edward began to fall under the influence of his mistress Alice Perrers. He died on 21st of June 1377 in Sheen Castle after suffering from a stroke. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.

War with Scotland

Edward spent many years of his reign with warfare. He renewed the war with Scotland that his grandfather, Edward I, started and repudiated the Treaty of Northampton from 1328 which resulted in the Second War of Scottish Independence. In 1333, Edward won against the Scots at the Battle of Hallidon Hill. David II, King of Scots and son of Robert the Bruce, went to exile in France and Edward Balliol was set on the throne of Scotland. However, the victories in Scotland were not lasting. By 1337 most of the country was again in the hands of David II. In 1346, David II and his army were defeated in the Battle of Neville's Cross. David was imprisoned in the Tower of London. After eleven years of imprisonment he was released and allowed to return to Scotland.

War with France

Edward had several reasons for starting a war with France. Not only did the French support Scotland, Edward also claimed the French throne himself through his mother Isabella. In 1337 Edward started what should later be known as the Hundred Years War (1337-1453). He defeated the French in the naval battle at Sluys, and he was also successful in land campaigns. In 1346 Edward started a new campaign in Normandy and defeated the French in the Battle of Crécy. In 1356, Edward the Black Prince, eldest son of Edward III, was victorious at Poitier, where he took the French King John II prisoner. By relinquishing his claim to the French throne, Edward managed, in the Treaty of Bretigny (1360), to retain Aquitaine, Pothieu and Calais for England.

Sources

[1] http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/plantagenet_7.htm (11.07.2010)

[2] http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon32.html (11.07.2010)

[3] http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensofEngland/ThePlantagenets/EdwardIII.aspx (11.07.2010)

[4] http://www.nndb.com/people/315/000093036/ (11.07.2010)