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Edward, the son of
Edward II and Isabella
of France, was born November 13 1312 at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
A Victorian impression of the
Black Prince presenting his
father, Edward was only fourteen years old when he succeed his father, Edward II, and was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey on January 29th, 1327. He proved to be a powerful monarch and a skilled military commander winning battles against the Scots and the French. His reign lasted more than 50 years. When his cousin, Philippe VI, became king of France in 1328, Edward's claim to the French throne by right of his mother led to the Hundred Years' War. At first things went well for England. John II of France, Philippe's successor, was captured at Poitiers. He was allowed to go free in exchange for a huge ransom and sovereignty over Calais and Guienne. Edward also agreed not to pursue his claim. Philippa, Edward's 'most dear consort' died in 1369. By that
time the agreement with France had ended and the war resumed. He took a mistress
and she, and her daughter, are blamed for infecting him with gonorrhea. Edward's
eldest son, the Black Prince,
had died leaving the next eldest son, John of Gaunt, to assume power as the
King's health failed. Edward III died of a stroke at Sheen Palace, Surrey, in
1377. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, and succeeded by his grandson,
Richard II.
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