Edward III
Born in Windsor, BerkshireBorn on 13rd of November 1312
Died on 21st of June 1377
Edward III was born on the 13th November 1312 at Windsor Castle. His father was King Edward II, and his mother was Isabella of France. His father had a troubled reign with his military defeats and was deposed following a coup by his wife Isabella, her lover Roger Mortimer and the powerful Barons. Edward was then crowned on 1st February 1327 aged just 14 years of age, being so young Roger Mortimer acted as his Regent, unfortunately Edward tired of Mortimer and, without trial had him executed for taking Royal authority, he also banished his mother.
He married in 1328 at York Minster where Phillippa of Hainault, (Edward's cousin), who was the granddaughter of Phillip III of France became his wife. They were to have a happy marriage which bore an impressive 13 children across the years.
In 1340 Edward declared himself the King of France believing himself to be the closest heir to the crown; this was to lead to the infamous 100 years war. He landed in Normandy in France in the summer of 1346
accompanied by his son Edward who was known as The Black Prince, victory was theirs this time, and with the taking of Poitier several years later by the Black Prince at which time King John was held in captivity. Edward was later to relinquish his claim on the French crown after reaching an agreement with the French.
His decision to start the Order Of The Garter, which still continues to this day, promotes the acts of chivalry by this highest order, is said to have begun when, at a dance a lady's garter fell to the floor, at which time Edward retrieved it and placed it on his own leg declaring Honi Soit Qui Mai Y Pense, which translated means "Shame on him who thinks this evil" this continues to be their motto today, and the Order Of The Garter is considered the peak of the honours bestowed.
His wife Phillippa died in 1369 which left Edward to concentrate on his mistress Alice Perrers, until he died on the 21st June 1377, aged 64. He was later buried in Westminster Abbey, after an extensive reign of fifty years, and as his eldest son and heir the Black Prince had died before him he was succeeded by his grandson Richard, the Black Prince's eldest son, who was to reign as Richard III.
Edward had proved unpopular throughout his reign, with many defeated battles in France, high taxes, and the ravages of the Bubonic Plague, (Black Death) which had struck during his reign, which had coursed through Europe depleting the population by a third. It hit England's shores in 1348 and took its toll with a vengeance.
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