Now, you'll remember that our last monarch was Edward II, quite possibly the worst king England has ever had. Deposed and murdered by his own wife, Isabella, and her lover, Roger Mortimer, Edward II was succeeded by his 14 year old son, Edward III. Isabella and Roger ruled in his stead... the nobility was happy, as they thought young Edward would be submissive, like his father. They were wrong. So... I give you....
EDWARD III of ENGLAND... (and France.)
- Inherited a war with Scotland and France, which England was losing badly.
- Was married at age 14 to the 12 year old Philippa of Hanault, who was duchess of Aquitaine, in a bid to secure his French lands, which the king, his Uncle threatened to take. Philippa turned out to be a loving wife and a well popular queen consort to Edward.
- Edward and Philippa soon had a son, also named Edward. He was 18, she was barely 16. This bothered Roger Mortimer, Queen Dowager Isabella's lover. Relations soured.
- Edward, at age 18, staged a coup on his own regents/guardians. He had Roger Mortimer beheaded, and confined his mother to her home in Norfolk. It was clear Edward III would be no pushover.
- Reformed Parliament into a bicameral form, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, in order to end the dominance the Lords held over the knights and peasantry in meetings. This system would continue all the way up to today, and also shaped the governments of the USA, Germany, France, and many others, over time.
- Immediately set to task of installing a puppet king in Scotland. However, the war proved inconclusive. With neither side being able to take out the other, they agreed to a truce. Scotland would retain autonomy, but would also agree to not aid France in any future wars.
- France, enraged, took Aquitaine from Edward and demanded that the king pay homage to King Phillip VI of France. Edward coolly responded by claiming that, as grandson of Phillip IV, (through his mother,) HE was the true heir to the throne of France. Edward was, by technicality, the true heir to the throne of France. (Probably Edward I's plan the whole time.... that crafty old devil....)
- Phillip VI responded that the throne cannot pass through a woman, only men. This disagreement could not be resolved.
- Faced considerable financial problems when he tried to maintain alliances and peace, so he gave up on that tactic and simply went to war with France. This was the 100 Years' War, which was to be the longest war in history. (Cold Wars notwithstanding)
- Despite initial successes (mostly due to the fact that Edward allowed commoners to fight alongside the nobility with longbows) things took a bad turn for England when the Black Death hit England full force in 1348.
- Watched as a full 1/3 of his people died horribly from a disease no one could stop. Edward very quickly realized that he needed to put more power into the hands of people who could get things done quickly. The idea of "Ministers" who were powerful and acted with the authority of the crown formed during this time. Luckily, his ministers did an admirable job of rebuilding after the Black Death, and the war soon resumed.
- The war dragged on, proving inconclusive. Edward had to renounce his claim to the throne, but France had to renounce their claim to English land in France, such as Anjou and Aquitaine. Neither side was happy about this, and the war slowed, but did not stop.
- As Edward III grew old, he took less and less interest in governing the realm, leaving it to his ministers and a chancellor. This pleased the nobility, who could keep the war going with or without their formerly heroic king.
- Was dealt a personal blow when his eldest son, Edward the Black Prince, died of illness after a campaign in Spain in 1376. The Black Prince was strong and tall, a trademark of the Plantagenet line, and had been a deep seated favorite of the people. His son, born after his death, would be next in line.
- Ten years earlier, Edward's second son, Lionel of Antwerp, also tall and strong, had died of illness. His daughter, Philippa, would mother the York line of Plantagenets.
- Edward III's third son, John of Gaunt, was born in Ghent... while Edward was away. This led to scandalous rumors that John was not Edward's son... which always drove John to legendary rages. John's children would become the Lancaster line of Plantagenets.
- Edward's fourth son, Edmund, founded the House of York, but it would be through Lionel's great granddaughter, who married Edmund's youngest son, that the Yorkists would trace their lineage.
- Thomas of Woodstock, Edward's youngest son, would eventually go on to be the leader of the Lords Appellant... who would give the next king no end of headaches.
- Edward III fell ill with a large abscess after the death of the Black Prince. Although he seemed to be recovering, he died of a massive stroke in the summer of 1377. The realm passed to 10 year old Richard, son of Edward the Black Prince.... and the war in France raged on...
EDWARD III of ENGLAND... (and France.)
- Inherited a war with Scotland and France, which England was losing badly.
- Was married at age 14 to the 12 year old Philippa of Hanault, who was duchess of Aquitaine, in a bid to secure his French lands, which the king, his Uncle threatened to take. Philippa turned out to be a loving wife and a well popular queen consort to Edward.
- Edward and Philippa soon had a son, also named Edward. He was 18, she was barely 16. This bothered Roger Mortimer, Queen Dowager Isabella's lover. Relations soured.
- Edward, at age 18, staged a coup on his own regents/guardians. He had Roger Mortimer beheaded, and confined his mother to her home in Norfolk. It was clear Edward III would be no pushover.
- Reformed Parliament into a bicameral form, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, in order to end the dominance the Lords held over the knights and peasantry in meetings. This system would continue all the way up to today, and also shaped the governments of the USA, Germany, France, and many others, over time.
- Immediately set to task of installing a puppet king in Scotland. However, the war proved inconclusive. With neither side being able to take out the other, they agreed to a truce. Scotland would retain autonomy, but would also agree to not aid France in any future wars.
- France, enraged, took Aquitaine from Edward and demanded that the king pay homage to King Phillip VI of France. Edward coolly responded by claiming that, as grandson of Phillip IV, (through his mother,) HE was the true heir to the throne of France. Edward was, by technicality, the true heir to the throne of France. (Probably Edward I's plan the whole time.... that crafty old devil....)
- Phillip VI responded that the throne cannot pass through a woman, only men. This disagreement could not be resolved.
- Faced considerable financial problems when he tried to maintain alliances and peace, so he gave up on that tactic and simply went to war with France. This was the 100 Years' War, which was to be the longest war in history. (Cold Wars notwithstanding)
- Despite initial successes (mostly due to the fact that Edward allowed commoners to fight alongside the nobility with longbows) things took a bad turn for England when the Black Death hit England full force in 1348.
- Watched as a full 1/3 of his people died horribly from a disease no one could stop. Edward very quickly realized that he needed to put more power into the hands of people who could get things done quickly. The idea of "Ministers" who were powerful and acted with the authority of the crown formed during this time. Luckily, his ministers did an admirable job of rebuilding after the Black Death, and the war soon resumed.
- The war dragged on, proving inconclusive. Edward had to renounce his claim to the throne, but France had to renounce their claim to English land in France, such as Anjou and Aquitaine. Neither side was happy about this, and the war slowed, but did not stop.
- As Edward III grew old, he took less and less interest in governing the realm, leaving it to his ministers and a chancellor. This pleased the nobility, who could keep the war going with or without their formerly heroic king.
- Was dealt a personal blow when his eldest son, Edward the Black Prince, died of illness after a campaign in Spain in 1376. The Black Prince was strong and tall, a trademark of the Plantagenet line, and had been a deep seated favorite of the people. His son, born after his death, would be next in line.
- Ten years earlier, Edward's second son, Lionel of Antwerp, also tall and strong, had died of illness. His daughter, Philippa, would mother the York line of Plantagenets.
- Edward III's third son, John of Gaunt, was born in Ghent... while Edward was away. This led to scandalous rumors that John was not Edward's son... which always drove John to legendary rages. John's children would become the Lancaster line of Plantagenets.
- Edward's fourth son, Edmund, founded the House of York, but it would be through Lionel's great granddaughter, who married Edmund's youngest son, that the Yorkists would trace their lineage.
- Thomas of Woodstock, Edward's youngest son, would eventually go on to be the leader of the Lords Appellant... who would give the next king no end of headaches.
- Edward III fell ill with a large abscess after the death of the Black Prince. Although he seemed to be recovering, he died of a massive stroke in the summer of 1377. The realm passed to 10 year old Richard, son of Edward the Black Prince.... and the war in France raged on...