- AKA: Edward of Caernarfon
- 1307-1327: King of England
- Earl of Chester
- 1307: Knighted at Westminster Abbey
- 1327: Deposition by son Edward III of England
Edward II of England, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Guyenne, was born 25 April 1284 in Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom to Edward I of England (1239-1307) and Eleanor of Castile (1241-1290) and died 21 September 1327 Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom of unspecified causes. He married Isabella Capet (c1295-1358) 1308 JL in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
Edward II was the King of England from 1307 to 1327. He was born on April 25, 1284, in Caernarfon Castle, Wales, the fourth son of King Edward I and his first wife Eleanor of Castile. He was initially not expected to become king, as he had three older brothers, but after the death of his elder brother Alphonso, Edward became the heir to the throne.
Edward II became king after the death of his father, Edward I, in 1307. His reign was marked by conflict with the barons, as well as with his own wife and her family. Edward's relationship with his favorite, Piers Gaveston, also caused controversy and ultimately led to his downfall.
One of the early challenges of Edward's reign was the conflict with the barons, who were unhappy with his father's policies and the continued influence of his advisors. Edward tried to appease the barons by promising to reform the government, but this only led to more conflict. In 1311, the barons forced Edward to agree to a set of reforms known as the Ordinances of 1311, which limited the power of the king and gave more authority to a council of barons.
Edward's relationship with Piers Gaveston, a Gascon knight, was one of the most controversial aspects of his reign. Edward was deeply attached to Gaveston and showered him with gifts and titles. This made him deeply unpopular with the barons, who saw Gaveston as a threat to their own power. In 1312, the barons captured and executed Gaveston, despite Edward's attempts to save him.
Edward's relationship with his wife, Isabella of France, was also troubled. Isabella was unhappy with Edward's favoritism toward Gaveston and her own lack of influence in his court. In 1325, she left England and went to France, where she began an affair with Roger Mortimer, a powerful baron who had also been exiled. Together, Isabella and Mortimer launched an invasion of England in 1326, deposed Edward, and had him imprisoned.
Edward II was imprisoned in Berkeley Castle, where he died on September 21, 1327. The circumstances of his death are uncertain, but it is believed that he was murdered on the orders of Mortimer and Isabella. Edward was succeeded by his son, Edward III.
Family Life
Edward's coat of arms as king
Edward II's reign was marked by conflict with the barons, his attachment to his favorite, Piers Gaveston, and his troubled relationship with his wife, Isabella Capet (c1295-1358) (aka: Isabella of France). His reign ended in his deposition and imprisonment, and his death remains shrouded in mystery.
Edward II had four children with Isabella:[1]
- Edward III of England (1312-1377). Married Philippa of Hainaut (1311-1369) on 24 January 1328 and had issue.
- John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall (1316-1336). Never married. No issue.
- Eleanor of England (1318-1355). Married Reinoud II of Guelders in May 1332 and had issue.
- Joan of England (1321-1362). Married David II of Scotland on 17 July 1328 and became Queen of Scots, but had no issue.
Edward also fathered the illegitimate Adam FitzRoy (c1307-1322), who accompanied his father in the Scottish campaigns of 1322 and died shortly afterwards.[2]
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Edward III of England (1312-1377) | 13 November 1312 Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom | 21 June 1377 Sheen Palace, Surrey, England, United Kingdom | Philippa of Hainaut (1311-1369) |
| John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall (1316-1336) | 15 August 1316 Eltham Palace, Kent, England, United Kingdom | 13 September 1336 Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| Eleanor of England (1318-1355) | 18 June 1318 | 22 April 1355 | Reinoud II van Gelre (c1295-1343) |
| Joan of England (1321-1362) | 5 July 1321 Tower of London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom | 7 September 1362 Hertford Castle, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom | David II of Scotland (1324-1371) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Adam FitzRoy (c1307-1322) | 1307 England, United Kingdom | 19 August 1322 England, United Kingdom | |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Thomas of Brotherton (1300-1338) | 1 June 1300 | 4 August 1338 | Alice De Hales (1302-Bef 1330) Mary Braose |
| Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent (1301-1330) | 5 August 1301 | 19 March 1330 | Margaret Wake, 3rd Baroness Wake of Liddell (c1299-1349) |
| Eleanor of England (1306-1311) | 4 May 1306 Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom | 1310 Amesbury Abbey, Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
See Also
- wikipedia:en:Edward II of England
- Edward II of England at thePeerage
- Edward II of England - Geni.com
- Edward II of England at Find A Grave
- English Kings 1066-1603 - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy
- Given-Wilson, Chris (1996). The English Nobility in the Late Middle Ages: The fourteenth-century political community. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-14883-2.
- Haines, Roy Martin (2003). King Edward II: His life, his reign and its aftermath, 1284–1330. Montreal, Canada and Kingston, Canada: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-3157-4.
- Hallam, Elizabeth M.; Everard, Judith A. (2001). Capetian France, 987–1328 (2nd ed.). Harlow, UK: Longman. ISBN 978-0-582-40428-1.
- Perry, Curtis (2000). "The politics of access and representations of the sodomite king in early modern England". Renaissance Quarterly 53: 1054–1083. DOI:10.2307/2901456. ISSN 1935-0236.
- Phillips, Seymour (2006). The Place of the Reign of Edward II. pp. 220–233. in Dodd & Musson 2006.
- Prasch, Thomas (1993). "Edward II". American Historical Review 98: 1164–1166. DOI:10.2307/2166608. ISSN 0002-8762.
Contemporary References
There are several contemporary references that provide insight into the life and reign of King Edward II of England. The most notable ones are:
- The Chronicle of Lanercost: This is a chronicle of Scottish history that covers the period from 1201 to 1346. It includes a detailed account of Edward II's reign, including his conflicts with the barons and his relationship with Piers Gaveston.
- The Vita Edwardi Secundi: This is a biography of Edward II that was written by an anonymous author who was likely a member of his court. It provides a sympathetic portrayal of the king and emphasizes his piety and love of peace.
- The Song of Lewes: This is a ballad that was written in the aftermath of the Battle of Lewes in 1264, but it includes references to Edward II and his reign. It portrays him as a weak and ineffective king who is easily manipulated by his advisors.
- The Gesta Edwardi de Carnarvon: This is a chronicle that covers the reign of Edward II's father, Edward I, as well as the early years of Edward II's reign. It includes details about Edward II's coronation and his conflicts with the barons.
- The Brut: This is a chronicle of English history that covers the period from the mythical Trojan origins of Britain to the year 1419. It includes a detailed account of Edward II's reign, including his deposition and imprisonment.
Ancestry Trees
External links
- "Edward II's tomb". Gloucester Cathedral. https://www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk/visit/things-to-do/highlights/edward-ii-tomb.php.
- Edward II at the official website of the British monarchy
- Edward II at BBC History
- "Archival material relating to Edward II of England". UK National Archives. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F57319.
- Portraits of King Edward II at the National Portrait Gallery, London
References
- ^ Haines 2003, p. 355; Phillips 2011, p. 102.
- ^ Haines 2003, p. 270; Phillips 2011, pp. 428–429.
Edward II of England (1284-1327) Born: 25 April 1284 Died: 21 September 1327
| ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward I |
King of England Lord of Ireland 1307–1327 |
Succeeded by Edward III |
| Duke of Aquitaine 1306–1325 | ||
| Preceded by Eleanor and Edward I |
Count of Ponthieu 1290–1325 | |
English royalty
| ||
| Vacant Title last held by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
|
Prince of Wales 1301–1307 |
Vacant Title next held by Edward, the Black Prince
|
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
John Kenney, Robin Patterson, AMK152, Phlox, Rtol, Thurstan, MainTour, Afil
|
.jpg){kind=link}