Edward III
On the 25th of January 1327, a fourteen-year-old boy named Edward was proclaimed king in London. His father, King Edward II, had been forced to relinquish the throne by his mother Isabella of France and her lover Roger Mortimer. The previous reign had been marked by deep unpopularity among nobles and commoners alike due to failed wars with Scotland and the influence of royal favorites like Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser the Younger. By 1325, historian Chris Given-Wilson noted that no landholder felt safe under Edward II's regime. Queen Isabella herself had been publicly humiliated when the government declared her an enemy alien and repossessed her estates. She fled to France and conspired with the exiled Roger Mortimer to overthrow her husband. An invasion force launched from the continent found Edward II's army deserting him completely. A parliament summoned by Isabella and Mortimer formalized the transfer of power. The young prince was crowned at Westminster Abbey on the 1st of February 1327, marking the end of one of England's most disastrous reigns.
Roger Mortimer remained the de facto ruler of England after the coronation, using his position to acquire noble estates and titles while subjecting the young king to disrespect. Tensions escalated in 1330 when Mortimer executed Edward's uncle Edmund, Earl of Kent. Contemporary chroniclers suspected Mortimer even desired the throne himself. On the 19th of October 1330, Edward III led a surprise attack against Mortimer at Nottingham Castle. He was aided by William Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu, and a small group of trusted men. Mortimer was captured and subsequently executed. This coup marked the beginning of Edward's personal reign. Historian Mark Ormrod argued that at this point Edward had received little instruction in kingship, relying instead on practical experience rather than theoretical knowledge gained from books on the subject. The young king now faced the task of governing a kingdom where his own authority had been compromised for years.
In 1346, Edward staged a major offensive sailing for Normandy with an army of 15,000 men. His forces sacked Caen before marching across northern France to meet Flemish allies. At Crécy, just north of the Somme, he found favorable terrain and fought a pursuing French army led by Philip VI. On the 26th of August, the English defeated a far larger French force. Shortly after, on the 17th of October, another English army captured King David II of Scotland at Neville's Cross. These victories secured England's northern borders and allowed Edward to lay siege to Calais. The operation involved 32,000 men and lasted until the 3rd of August 1347 when the town surrendered. In 1356, Edward's eldest son Edward, Prince of Wales, won the Battle of Poitiers. The outnumbered English forces routed the French and captured King John II of France along with his youngest son Philip. These successes led to the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360, granting England extensive territorial gains while Edward renounced his claim to the French throne.
The financial demands of the Hundred Years War forced Parliament to develop into a bicameral institution with significant political influence. During this period, membership in the baronage became restricted to those receiving personal summons to Parliament. The House of Commons gained power through its right to grant taxes. Taxation took two primary forms: levy and customs. A levy was a grant of moveable property, normally a tenth for towns and a fifteenth for farmland. Customs provided steady income from wool exports, an ancient duty existing since 1275. From 1336 onwards, schemes increased royal revenues from wool export. The Statute of the Staple of 1353 approved these new customs by Parliament, though they effectively became permanent. Through steady taxation, Parliament gained political influence as kings had to prove necessity before communities would grant funds. In the Good Parliament of 1376, the Commons first precipitated a political crisis, creating procedures for impeachment and the office of Speaker. This process laid foundations for constitutional monarchy where ministers argued cases before Parliament and concessions were announced at session ends.
In January 1344, Edward held a great feast at Windsor Castle inviting large numbers including lords and City of London contingents. The first night saw all attending ladies dining while other men ate in tents. Jousting over three days crowned Edward champion according to Adam Murimuth's chronicle. He announced founding the Round Table of King Arthur before abandoning the project four years later. Around 1348, Edward founded the Order of the Garter instead. Polydore Vergil tells how young Joan of Kent allegedly dropped her garter at a ball in Calais. Edward responded by tying it around his knee with words honi soit qui mal y pense meaning shame on him who thinks ill of it. In 1362, a Statute of Pleading ordered English used in law courts. Parliament opened in English for the first time the following year. This revival coincided with vernacular literary works by Geoffrey Chaucer and others. Yet the statute written in French had little immediate effect as Parliament remained open in that language until 1377. The Order included foreign members like John IV Duke of Brittany alongside English nobles.
After 1375, Edward III played limited role in government due to declining health and political strife. On the 29th of September 1376 he fell ill with large abscess. After brief recovery in February 1377, the king died of stroke at Sheen on the 21st of June. His ten-year-old grandson Richard II succeeded him since Edward's eldest son Edward of Woodstock had died on the 8th of June 1376. In 1376 Edward signed letters patent ordering succession citing third son John of Gaunt second position while ignoring Philippa daughter of Lionel of Antwerp. This exclusion contrasted with Edward I's 1290 decision recognizing women's inheritance rights. The order determined in 1376 led House of Lancaster throne in 1399 whereas rule decided by Edward I would have favored Philippa's descendants including House of York beginning with Richard of York. Large number of cousins created sometimes argued laid foundations for Wars of Roses in fifteenth century. Military failure abroad and fiscal pressure caused discontent leading to Good Parliament where Commons addressed grievances against royal advisors before most achievements reversed in next convocation.
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Common questions
When was Edward III proclaimed king of England?
Edward III was proclaimed king on the 25th of January 1327 in London. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey on the 1st of February 1327 after his father King Edward II relinquished the throne.
How did Edward III regain power from Roger Mortimer?
On the 19th of October 1330, Edward III led a surprise attack against Roger Mortimer at Nottingham Castle with William Montagu and trusted men. This coup captured and executed Mortimer to begin Edward's personal reign.
What major battles did Edward III win during the Hundred Years War?
Edward III defeated the French army at Crécy on the 26th of August 1346 and captured King David II of Scotland at Neville's Cross on the 17th of October 1346. His son won the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 where English forces routed the French and captured King John II of France.
Why did Parliament gain political influence under Edward III?
Parliament developed into a bicameral institution due to financial demands of the Hundred Years War requiring taxation grants. The House of Commons gained power through its right to grant taxes and created procedures for impeachment during the Good Parliament of 1376.
How did the Black Death affect labor laws in England?
The Black Death struck England in 1348 killing a third or more of the population which caused farm labor shortages and rising wages. Edward III and Parliament responded with the Ordinance of Labourers in 1349 followed by the Statute of Labourers in 1351 to fix wages at pre-plague levels.
When did Edward III die and who succeeded him?
King Edward III died of stroke at Sheen on the 21st of June 1377 after falling ill on the 29th of September 1376. His ten-year-old grandson Richard II succeeded him since Edward's eldest son Edward of Woodstock had died on the 8th of June 1376.