| Notes |
Edward III (13 November 1312 - 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of W i n d sor before his accession, was King of England from January 1327 unti l h i s d e ath in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for resto ri n g r o yal authority after the disastrous and unorthodox reign of his f a t h e r, Edward II. Edward III transformed the Kingdom of England into on e o f t h e m ost formidable military powers in Europe. His fifty-year reig n i s o n e o f the longest in English history, and saw vital developments i n l e g i slation and government, in particular the evolution of the Englis h P a r l iament, as well as the ravages of the Black Death. He outlived his e l d e st son, Edward the Black Prince, and was succeeded by his grandson, R i c h ard II.
His father, Edward II, was forced from power by his own wife Isabel and R o g e r M o rtimer. Edward II abdicated the throne of England in favor of h i s s o n E d ward of Windsor on 21 January 1327. Edward III was proclaimed K i n g o f E n gland on 25 January 1327, and crowned at Westminster Abbey on 1 F e b r u a ry 1327. His mother Isabella with Roger de Mortimer served as Reg e n t o f E n gland in his place until Edward usurped the regents (and execu t e d R o g er Mortimer) on 19 October 1330.
Edward III first styled himself King of France in 1337 when Phillip VI K i n g o f F r ance attempted to reclaim the English Duchy of Aquitaine. The c o u n t r ies had been scuffling over the remaining English held lands of Fr a n c e , G ascony and Acauitane for generations. Edward III's claim was f o r h i s M o ther and was based on her right from her maternal grandfather P h i l l i p IV, King of France. In 1360, a temporary peace was reached with t h e F r e n ch when Edward III renounced his claim to the French throne in e x c h a n ge for sovereignty over Aquitaine and other lands in France. When t h e w a r f i nally ended only Calais, Bordeaux and Bayonne remained in Engl i s h h a n ds.
Founded The Noble Order of the Garter at Windsor
King Edward III ( 1327 - 1377 )
1327 - Edward III accedes to the throne after his father, Edward II, is f o r m ally deposed.
1328 - Edward marries Phillipa of Hanault
1329 - Edward recognizes Scotland as an independent nation
1330 - Edward takes power after three years of government by his mother , I s a bella of France, and her lover, Roger Mortimer. He imprisons his m ot h e r for the rest of her life.
1332 - Parliament is divided into two houses, Lords and Commons. Englis h b e c omes the court language replacing Norman French.
1333 - Defeat of Scottish army at Halidon Hill.
1337 - French King Philip VI annexes the English King's Duchy of Aquita i n e . Edward III responds by laying claim to the French crown as a grand s o n o f Philip IV though his mother Isabella. This results in the 100 Ye a r s ’ War with France.
1344 - Edward establishes the Order of the Garter
1346 - David II of Scotland invades England but is defeated at Neville’ s C r o ss and captured.
1346 - French defeated at the Battle of Crecy.
1347 - Edward besieges and captures Calais.
1348 - -1350 The Black Death, bubonic plague which caused the skin to t u r n b lack, kills one-third of the English population. It leaves an acut e s h o rtage of labour for agriculture and armies.
1356 - Black Prince defeats the French at Poitiers capturing King John I I o f F r ance who is held prisoner for four years. Most of South Western F r an c e is now held by the English.
1357 - David II of Scotland is released from captivity and returns home t o S c o tland.
1360 - King John II of France is released on promise of payment of a ra n s o m and leaving his son Louis of Anjou in English-held Calais as hosta g e .
1364 - Louis escapes and John unable to pay the ransom returns to Engla n d w h ere he dies.
1367 - England and France support rival sides in the civil war in Casti l l e
1369 - War breaks out again as the French take back Aquitaine.
1370 - Edward, The Black Prince, sacks Limoges massacring 3,000 people.
1372 - French troops recapture Poitou and Brittany. Naval Battle at La R o c h elle.
1373 - John of Gaunt leads an invasion of France taking his army to the b o r d ers of Burgundy.
1373 - John of Gaunt returns to England and takes charge of government. E d w a rd and his son are ill.
1375 - Treaty of Bruges. English possessions in France are reduced to t h e a r eas of Bordeaux and Calais.
1376 - Parliament gains right to investigate public abuses and impeach o f f e nders; the first impeachment is of Alice Perrers, Edward’s mistress, a n d t w o lords.
1376 - Death of Edward, the Black Prince.
1377 - Edward III dies of a stroke at Sheen Palace, Surrey, aged 64 yea r s
|
1312 - 1377 (64 years)