Edward III of England
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| Edward III | ||
|---|---|---|
| By the Grace of God, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland |
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| Reign | 25 January 1327 – 21 June 1377 | |
| Coronation | 1 February 1327 | |
| Born | 13 November 1312 | |
| Windsor Castle | ||
| Died | 21 June 1377 | |
| Sheen Palace | ||
| Buried | Westminster | |
| Predecessor | Edward II | |
| Successor | Richard II | |
| Consort | Philippa of Hainault (c. 1314–1369) |
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| Children | Edward, the Black Prince (1330–1376) Lionel of Antwerp (1338–1368) John of Gaunt (1340–1399) Edmund of Langley (1342–1404) Thomas of Woodstock (1355–1397) |
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| Royal House | Plantagenet | |
| Father | Edward II (1284–1327) | |
| Mother | Isabella of France (c.1295–1358) | |
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; in this respect he can only be compared with Henry III and George III. He made England the most efficient military power in Europe. So quite a few historians see him as responsible for thebeginning of the English nation.
Edward was crowned at the age of fourteen, after his father was forced to resign. Only seventeen years old began his personal reign. 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 establised the Order of the Garter, and he did much for the development of legislature and government—in particular the evolution of the English parliament&mdash. But during his reign there was as well the Black Death. He was a temperamental man, but also capable of great clemency. He was, in most ways, a conventional king, and he was very much interested in military affair. 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 his many achievements.
[edit] External links
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)
| English monarchs |  |
|---|---|
| Alfred • Edward the Elder • Ælfweard • Athelstan • Edmund I • Edred • Edwy • Edgar I • Edward the Martyr • Ethelred • Sweyn I • Edmund II • Canute • Harold I • Harthacanute • Edward the Confessor • Harold II • Edgar II • William I • William II • Henry I • Stephen • Matilda • Henry II • Richard I • John • Henry III • Edward I • Edward II • Edward III • Richard II • Henry IV • Henry V • Henry VI • Edward IV • Edward V • Richard III • Henry VII • Henry VIII • Edward VI • Lady Jane Grey • Mary I • Elizabeth I • James I • Charles I • Interregnum • Charles II • James II • William III and Mary II (as co-monarchs William & Mary) • William III (own reign) • Anne | |
