Edward II
married Eleanor of Castile (1246–90), by whom he had
10 children. She died in 1290, and in September 1299
Edward married Margaret of France (d. 1317), by whom
he had three children. Soon after Edward’s first marriage,
Henry III gave him Gascony, IRELAND, Bristol, and the
march between the Dee and Conway Rivers. In the latter
area, as the earl of Chester, he gained experience in war-
fare with the Welsh. His attempt to introduce the English
system of countries and hundreds angered LLYWELYNap
Gruffydd, prince of WALES(d. 1282), leading to war.
During the Parliament of OXFORDin 1258, Edward
sided against the barons with his father, but in the follow-
ing year he wavered and became a leader of the “Bache-
lorhood of England” in support of SIMON DEMONTFORT
the Younger (ca. 1200–65) and the Provisions of Oxford.
Again in support of his father, Edward attacked the
Welsh, who were supporting the rebellious barons, and in
1264 he attacked the barons at Northampton. Edward
was captured at the Battle of LEWES. After his escape
Edward defeated the rebellious barons at the Battle of
Evesham on August 4, 1265. He received the submission
of the barons and became an advocate of a policy of rec-
onciliation. He gained popularity by abolishing a levy of
customs and by promoting laws against the Jewish mon-
eylenders. He left for the CRUSADESin 1271 and fought
bravely at ACREand Haifa. While Edward was on the way
home, his father died, and he succeeded to the Crown on
November 20, 1272.
EDWARD AS KING AND AT WARAfter his coronation on August 19, 1274, Edward began a
strong effort to promote and consolidate royal power and
to develop and control a parliamentary system of govern-
ment. He earned the name of “English JUSTINIAN” as a
flood of legislation was passed that enabled land sales and
reformed territorial jurisdiction and ecclesiastical land-
holding, legal rights, and a national military force.
Edward was also busily engaged in the first years of
his reign in attempts to control Wales. Prince LLYWELYN
ap Gruffydd at first refused to pay homage and then to
attend PARLIAMENTbut submitted to the English in 1276.
This submission did not last long, however, and Edward
was forced to take up arms, killing Llywelyn in 1282, and
putting his brother, David, on trial in 1283. This victory
over the Welsh rebels resulted in the Statute of Wales,
which confirmed English control of Wales. By 1292
Edward was also involved in SCOTLAND. After the Scot-
tish asked for arbitration by the English, Edward placed
John Ballio (r. 1292–96, d. 1313) on the Scottish throne.
Balliol was forced to surrender the throne in 1296.
Edward defeated Scottish rebels, led by William WAL-
LACE, at Linlithgow Heath in 1298 and executed Wallace
as a traitor in London.
In addition to attempting to conquer or control Scot-
land and Wales, Edward was active in consolidating his
possessions on the Continent. From 1286 to 1289 he
spent time in FRANCEand Gascony. After the loss of Gas-
cony to King PHILIPIV in 1294, he was able to gain sup-
port for military activities from a PARLEMENTof all three
estates in 1295 and financial help from the CLERGYin- Although many barons did not want to participate
in the campaign to Gascony, Edward sailed for BRUGESto
help the count of FLANDERSagainst the French. The fol-
lowing year, persuaded by Pope BONIFACE VIII, he
deserted his ally to make a truce with FRANCE in
exchange for territory lost earlier.
The last years of Edward’s reign were spent in con-
flict with his barons, who continued to oppose his mili-
tary activities at home and abroad. To obtain their
military and financial support, he was forced to confirm
and reissue the Charter of Liberties or MAGNACARTAin - While traveling north to deal with the threat of
ROBERT I THE BRUCE, the new leader of the Scottish
rebels, he died at Burghon-Sands on July 7, 1307. He was
buried at WESTMINSTERABBEYon October 27.
See also CLERICIS LAICOS.
Further reading:F. M. Powicke, King Henry III and
the Lord Edward: The Community of the Realm in the Thir-
teenth Century,2 vols. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1947);
Michael Prestwich, Edward I,2d ed. (New Haven, Conn.:
Yale University Press, 1998); Michael Prestwich, The
Three Edwards: War and State in England, 1272–1377
(London: Methuen, 1980).
Edward II(1284–1327) king of England
Edward II was born at Carnarvon in Wales on April 25,
1284, the fourth son of EDWARDI and Eleanor of Castile
(1246–90). He acted as regent during his father’s absence
in FLANDERSin 1297–98. He was created prince of WALES
and earl of Chester in 1301. Among his first acts on suc-
ceeding to the Crown on July 8, 1307, he recalled his
favorite, Piers Gaveston (ca. 1284–1312), who had been
banished by Edward I, and made him earl of Cornwall on
August 6. He also appointed Gaveston regent of IRELAND
and custodian of the realm. In January 1308 Edward mar-
ried Isabel (1292–1358), the daughter of King PHILIPIV
of FRANCE.
Under the pretense of attacking the Scottish rebels,
Edward marched north in 1310. His real aim, however,
was to avoid dealing with rebellious barons and their
leader Thomas of Lancaster (ca. 1278–1322). Civil war
broke out. The strife ended with the murder of Gaveston,
the hated favorite, by Guy de Beauchamp (d. 1315), the
earl of Warwick, on June 19, 1312.
Hoping to win popular support, Edward resumed the
seemingly popular war against the Scots. His sound
defeat by ROBERTI THEBRUCEat Bannockburn in 1314
lost him the little remaining influence and respect he
had. Edward’s high-handed treatment of the Mortimer
family and other nobles alienated many of the aristocracy.
Edward offended Isabel, his wife, by his fondness for the