Edward II, King of England
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| − | + | Edward II, [[Monarch of England|King of England]] | |
Edward was born 25 Apr 1284 at Carnarvon Castle in Wales (now part of England), the son of [[Edward I, King of England]], by his first wife Eleanor of Castile. | Edward was born 25 Apr 1284 at Carnarvon Castle in Wales (now part of England), the son of [[Edward I, King of England]], by his first wife Eleanor of Castile. | ||
| − | When Edward I died in 1307, his son Edward became King and reigned until 1327. He famously raised his lover Piers Gaveston to the Earldom of Cornwall in 1307. Piers although forced into exile, once by Edward's father, and again later by the Barons, returned and was eventually beheaded 19 Jun 1312 at Blacklow Hill. | + | When Edward I died in 1307, his son Edward became King and reigned until 1327. He famously raised his lover [[Piers Gaveston]] to the Earldom of Cornwall in 1307. Piers although forced into exile, once by Edward's father, and again later by the Barons, returned to England to be by his beloved king. Piers upstart manner, lack of noble background, and presumption made him few friends and many enemies among the baronial families. For these reasons and others, he was eventually beheaded 19 Jun 1312 at Blacklow Hill. |
Meanwhile Edward II, although having been married to Isabella of France on 25 Jan 1308 had no children by her until they had a son Edward on 13 Nov 1312, destined to became [[Edward III, King of England|Edward III]]. | Meanwhile Edward II, although having been married to Isabella of France on 25 Jan 1308 had no children by her until they had a son Edward on 13 Nov 1312, destined to became [[Edward III, King of England|Edward III]]. | ||
| − | The lesson of Piers Gaveston was lost on Edward II who next fell under the sway of the Despencers, father and son, when he made the son his new favorite and bed-partner. They were both exiled in 1321, but recalled a year later and the father raised to the Peerage as the Earl of Winchester. When Isabella was sent to France to negotiate a treaty she took the opportunity to declare that she would not return until the Despencer's were gone. | + | The lesson of [[Piers Gaveston]] was lost on Edward II who next fell under the sway of the Despencers, father and son, when he made the son his new favorite and bed-partner. They were both exiled in 1321, but recalled a year later and the father raised to the Peerage as the Earl of Winchester. When Isabella was sent to France to negotiate a treaty she took the opportunity to declare that she would not return until the Despencer's were gone. |
Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer now raised a small army and invaded England. The Despencers were executed in 1326, and Edward II was imprisoned. He was murdered, probably at Isabella's orders on 21 Sep 1327 while a prisoner at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. | Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer now raised a small army and invaded England. The Despencers were executed in 1326, and Edward II was imprisoned. He was murdered, probably at Isabella's orders on 21 Sep 1327 while a prisoner at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. | ||
