Edward III of England
| Edward III | |
|---|---|
| King of England; Lord of Ireland | |
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| Edward III depicted in Cassell's History of England (1902) | |
| Reign | 1 February 1327 – 21 June 1377 (50 years) |
| Coronation | 1 February 1327 |
| Predecessor | Edward II |
| Successor | Richard II "of Bordeaux" |
| Regent | Roger Mortimer, Earl of March & Queen Isabella (de facto) Council inc. Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster (1327–1330; de jure) |
| Spouse | Philippa of Hainault |
| Issue | |
| Edward, Prince of Wales "The Black Prince" Isabella, Dame de Coucy Lady Joan Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster Edmund of Langley, Duke of York Mary, Duchess of Brittany Margaret Plantagenet, Countess of Pembroke Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester |
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| House | House of Plantagenet |
| Father | Edward II |
| Mother | Isabella of France |
| Born | 13 November 1312 Windsor Castle, Berkshire |
| Died | 21 June 1377 (aged 64) Sheen Palace, Richmond |
| Burial | Westminster Abbey, London |
Edward III (13 November 1312–21 June 1377) was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. He ruled for 50 years.
He made England the strongest military power in Europe.
Edward was crowned when he was fourteen years old, after his father was forced to resign (abdicate). After his victory against the Scots, he declared himself heir to the French throne in 1337, and so started the Hundred Years' War. The war went very well for England; the victories of Crécy and Poitiers led up to the Treaty of Brétigny, by which he gained a lot of territory. When he became older, he was much less active, mostly a result of his bad health.
Edward also established the Order of the Garter, and developed of legislature and government. However, during his reign there was the Black Death.
In his own time and for centuries after Edward III was praised a lot, but by Whig historians he was seen as an irresponsible adventurer. This view has turned, and modern historians see what a good king he was.
Other websites [change]
The Medieval Sourcebook (Home page) has some good sources relating to the reign of Edward III:
- The Ordinance of Labourers, 1349
- The Statute of Laborers, 1351
- Thomas Walsingham’s account of the Good Parliament of 1376.
- Man of War: Edward III, King of England (myArmoury.com article)
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