Coronation of Edward III

Coronation of Edward III

Edward III or Edward of Windsor as he was known in his youth, was the eldest son of Edward II and Isabella of France.

Edward was born at Windsor Castle on 13th November 1312 at 5:36 AM, making him the first English monarch to have their exact time of birth recorded.

In the summer of 1326, Isabella conspired against her husband Edward II.

Parliament charged Edward II with incompetence and breaking his coronation oath.
He was forced to resign on the 25th of January 1327 in favour of his son Edward III, with Isabella and her lover Mortimer, acting as regents.

At the age of 14, the new king was crowned as Edward III on 1st February 1327 at Westminster Abbey by Walter Reynolds, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Though he held the title of King, he was unable to use his authority no thanks to his mother, Isabella, and her lover Roger Mortimer.

Isabella and Mortimer controlled Edward’s every move, especially in government matters.

On the whim of his mother, Edward married Philippa of Hainault at York Minster on 24th January 1328.
Coincidentally, the match was perfect and Edward and his new bride spent over 40 happy years together.

The marriage produced twelve children, nine of whom lived to see adulthood.

Edward quickly became weary of being under the control of Isabella and Mortimer.
As soon as Edward came of age in 1330, he vowed to do something about the meddlesome twosome.

The line was finally crossed when Roger Mortimer interrupted the King in a meeting with his royal council, at Nottingham.
Mortimer had become suspicious of some of Edward’s actions, and demanded that the King be interrogated about them.

Edward was insulted by this, and on the night of 19th October 1330, Edward ordered a group of his trusted knights to enter Nottingham Castle and take Mortimer prisoner – he was later exEcuted.

Edward then had his mother Isabella confined to a castle for the rest of her days.

King Edward was famous for his victories in the Hundred Years War, but would also face many challenges.

He was flamboyant, generous and a victorious warrior king.
He regained lands in France, united his court and his barons’ favour through Parliament, and banished the demons from his father’s reign.

Yet his life ended with his heir already dead, his lands lost and his popularity in tatters…..