Edward II

Quick Facts

Famous As: King Of England

Nationality: British

Birth Date: April 25, 1284

Died At Age: 43

Sun Sign: Taurus

Born In: Caernarfon Castle

Father: Edward I Of England

Mother: Eleanor Of Castile

Siblings: Edmund Of Woodstock, 1st Earl Of Kent, Mary Of Woodstock, Thomas Of Brotherton, 1st Earl Of Norfolk

Spouse/Partner: Isabella Of France

Children: Edward III Of England, John Of Eltham, Earl Of Cornwall, Joan Of The Tower, Eleanor Of Woodstock, Adam FitzRoy

Religion: Catholicism

Died On: September 21, 1327

Place Of Death: Gloucestershire

Founder/Co-Founder: King's Hall, Cambridge, Oriel College, Oxford

Edward II ruled as the King of England for two decades, from 1307 to 1327. His reign is mostly marked as a period of unrest and conflict, the former due to the constant waging war with Scotland and the latter due to his preferential treatment. He faced persistent challenges all through his supremacy in the form of shortage of money, or opposition from barons and nobles. What worsened his period in throne were his incompetent or limited military skills. Edward II first came to prominence when he was appointed as the Prince of Wales. In 1307, he was knighted in a grand ceremony in Westminster Abbey. Same year, following the death of his father, he acceded to the throne. The highlight of his reign was his relationship with Piers Gaveston that earned the wrath of nobles and barons so much so that Gaveston was executed and killed by the frustrated barons. Despite the death of Gaveston, King Edward II’s nepotism continued as he soon found favourites in Dispenser father and son duo. His partial behaviour irked everyone including his wife, Isabella who along with her lover Roger Mortimer plotted against her despised husband and eventually executed him.

Childhood & Early Life

• Edward II was born on April 25, 1284 at Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd. He was the fourth son of the King and Queen of England, Edward I and Eleanor of Castile. His three elder brothers died before he was born, leaving him as the only heir to the throne.
• In his early years, Edward II was mostly looked after by his foster mother, Alice de Leygrave. Information regarding his education is speculative. It is believed that while his religious education was taken care of by Dominican friars, Guy Ferre trained him in riding and military services.

Accession & Reign

• During his father’s absence in 1297, Edward II took over as the regent in charge of England for a year. In 1300, the father-son duo set forth to Scotland, with young Edward as commander of the rearguard, at the siege of Caerlaverock.
• He was made Prince of Wales in 1301, thus becoming the first English Prince to hold the title.
• During the early 1300s, Prince Edward befriended Piers Gaveston, son of the King's household knights. The two shared a close relationship. This close friendship augmented Gaveston’s social status largely. In 1306, Prince Edward was knighted by the King.
• In 1307, Gaveston was exiled to Gascony. It is speculated that the King’s order for exile was as a response to a suggestion made by Prince Edward to give Gaveston the County of Ponthieu which he had inherited from his mother. Some even suggest that Gaveston and Prince Edward shared a sexual relationship
• In 1307, Robert the Bruce jumped to power as the King of the Scots, thus disintegrating King Edward I’s dream of a unified British nation. Though Prince Edward II was appointed as the head of the expedition against Bruce, his forces had to retreat following orders from King Edward I.
• King Edward mobilized a fresh army in 1307 for the Scottish campaign. Just when Prince Edward was to join the military forces, the king fell terminally ill which finally led to his death. Following the death of King Edward, Prince Edward was proclaimed as the King of England on July 20, 1307.
• As the King of England, Edward II first recalled Piers Gaveston from exile and appointed the latter as the Earl of Cornwall, a title until then limited to the members of the royalty only. The appointment caused a fury amongst the powerful barons and earned him the wrath of the nobles and magnates.
• In 1308, when King Edward II left for France, he appointed Gaveston as his ‘custos regni’ in charge of the kingdom during his absence. This appointment was loathed by barons as it gave Gaveston unprecedented powers.
• In 1308, Edward II married Isabella of France with the hope that the union would strengthen his position in Gascony and bring him much needed funds. However, the negotiations proved to be tough.
• At King Edward II and Isabella’s coronation and wedding feast, a large reception was organized during which Gaveston played a crucial role. His precedence at the ceremonial celebrations provoked much fury amongst the English and French contingents.
• At the 1308 parliamentary meet, the King’s constant preference to Gaveston became a major subject of contention. Two months later, a fresh parliament was held during which the barons successfully forced Gaveston’s exile. Originally intended to go to Aquitaine, Gaveston was instead sent to Dublin, where he was appointed as the Lieutenant of Ireland.
• During Gaveston’s exile, King Edward II made numerous efforts to allow the return of Gaveston in England by convincing Pope Clement V and Philip IV in addition to the members of the Church, key barons and leading earls, but in vain. Finally, based on his assurance, the Pope annulled Archbishop's threat to excommunicate Gaveston, thus opening the possibility of the latter’s return.
• In an attempt to pacify Gaveston’s critics, he agreed to limit the powers of the royal steward and the marshal of the royal household, to regulate the Crown's unpopular powers of purveyance and to abandon recently enacted customs legislation
• In 1310, a 21 elected member baronial committee was formed. They drafted the Ordinance which limited King’s rights and instead gave parliament the control over the royal administration, abolishing the system of prises, excluding the Frescobaldi bankers, and introducing a system to monitor the adherence to the Ordinances. It further limited the King’s right to go to war or grant land. It also exiled Gaveston whose return in 1312 led to his capture and execution.
• Following the rise in power of Robert the Bruce and his regaining of the kingdom of Scotland, King Edward II invaded Scotland. However, he was defeated resoundingly at the Battle of Bannockburn. His defeat in the battle led the barons to take control over the administration. By 1315, his cousin Thomas, Earl of Lancaster became the real master of England.
• The period between 1315 and 1321 was largely dominated by the Great Famine which ruefully engulfed the whole of England. Adding to the woes was the ascending power of the Scottish regime led by Robert the Bruce. His brother, Edward Bruce successfully invaded Ireland and became the King of Ireland
• By 1321, King Edward II had new favorites in the form of Hugh Dispenser and his son, Hugh Dispenser the Young. The association with the Dispenser was yet again loathed by the barons. As such, when the King supported the Dispensers in their territorial ambitions in Wales, Lancaster banished the two. King Edward II defeated Lancaster at the Battle of Boroughbridge, Yorkshire and later captured and executed him.
• In 1325, while on a diplomatic mission to France to negotiate a peace treaty, his wife Isabella befriended exiled Marcher lord, Roger Mortimer and became his mistress. The two soon invaded England, executed the Dispensers, deposed King Edward II and instead made Edward III the rightful King.
• Following his banishment, he was transferred to Berkley Castle in Gloucestershire on April 5, 1327. Later in September the same year, he was murdered.

Personal Life & Legacy

• According to the customary practice amongst the royal families of those times, Edward II’s marriage was more of an imperial arrangement to strengthen the kingdom rather than a love alliance. After a string of failed associations, his marriage to Isabella of France was fixed.
• King Edward II tied the nuptial knot to Isabella on January 25, 1308. The couple was blessed with four children, Edward III, John, Eleanor and Joan. King Edward II also fathered an illegitimate son Adam from his relationship with mistresses.
• His marriage to Isabella was mostly successful. However, Isabella’s visit to Paris in 1325 changed the course of their relationship and the impending future of the couple. In Paris, she became a mistress to Roger Mortimer. The two carefully planned the invasion of England and subsequent execution of King Edward II.
• After his death on September 21, 1327, King Edward II was succeeded by his son, Edward III. His body was embalmed at Berkeley Castle before being taken to Gloucester Abbey where he was finally buried by the high altar.