Edward III - England's Greatest King Documentary

The People Profiles・2 minutes read

King Edward III rose to power in England amidst political instability and challenges, securing his reign through military victories, such as the Battle of Crécy, and strategic alliances. His legacy as a skilled military leader and nation-builder reverberates through history, marking a stable period amidst turbulent times in the fourteenth century.

Insights

  • Edward III's birth secured the royal succession, marking a significant departure from his father's weak rule, characterized by political instability and resentment among English lords.
  • Edward III's military victories, notably at Crécy and Calais, established him as a formidable commander, leading to territorial gains in Scotland and France.
  • Edward III's reign was marked by domestic reforms like the Statute of Labourers, aimed at stabilizing the economy post-Black Death, and the formal adoption of English as the language of government, contributing to nation-building efforts.
  • Edward III's legacy encompasses military prowess, domestic reforms, and cultural contributions, positioning him as a stabilizing force amidst the turbulent fourteenth century in England.

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Summary

00:00

Edward III: Rise to Power and Reign

  • King Edward III was born on November 13, 1312, at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, to Edward II and Queen Isabella.
  • Edward III's birth was significant as his father had an illegitimate son, Adam Fitzroy, and Edward III secured the royal succession.
  • Edward III's father, Edward II, was a weak ruler who favored individuals like Piers Gaveston, leading to resentment among English lords.
  • Edward II's reign was marked by political instability, a defeat in Scotland at Bannockburn, and a famine in England in the mid-1310s.
  • Edward III was raised separately from his parents, with siblings John, Eleanor, and Joan, and received a physical education.
  • In 1321, a civil war broke out in England due to Edward II's support of the Despenser family, led by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster.
  • Isabella, Edward III's mother, and Roger Mortimer in France plotted against Edward II, leading to Edward III being sent to France in 1325.
  • Isabella and Mortimer, with Edward III, returned to England in 1326, leading to Edward II's capture, abdication, and Edward III's coronation.
  • Edward III initially ruled with a council but was overshadowed by Isabella and Mortimer, who effectively ruled England.
  • Edward II was discreetly murdered in 1327 at Berkeley Castle on Isabella and Mortimer's orders, while the Scots began raids into England and Ireland.

16:35

Weardale Campaign: Edward's Rise to Power

  • The Weardale Campaign took place in July and August 1327, led by Lord Douglas and the earls of Mar and Moray, with around 10,000 Scots invading northern England.
  • Isabella and Mortimer, newly powerful in England, saw the campaign against Scotland as a way to solidify their rule in young Edward's name.
  • After two weeks of maneuvering, a standoff near the River Wear led to a Scottish attack on the English camp on August 3rd, nearly capturing young Edward.
  • The Weardale Campaign ended inconclusively in 1328 with the Treaty of Northampton, recognizing Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland.
  • Edward's near capture during the campaign sparked his desire to master the art of war.
  • Edward's claim to the French throne was ignored in favor of Philip VI, leading to tensions between the two monarchs.
  • Edward's marriage to Philippa of Hainault in 1327 was followed by his growing independence from his mother and Mortimer by 1329.
  • Rumors of Edward II still being alive and Isabella's pregnancy with Mortimer's child led to Edward taking action against them in 1330.
  • Edward's confrontation with Isabella and Mortimer in Nottingham led to Mortimer's execution and Isabella's house arrest.
  • With his mother and Mortimer out of the way, Edward III began ruling independently from late 1330, leading England to a period of power restoration and expansion.

32:55

Edward III's Longbow Revolution and Military Triumphs

  • The longbow, a six-foot weapon, was a significant military innovation in the early fourteenth century, outperforming crossbows in effectiveness.
  • Edward III initiated a military revolution in the mid-fourteenth century, with the longbow being a key component.
  • The Battle at Halidon Hill saw the English, led by Edward, defeat the Scots due to the longbow's devastating impact.
  • Edward's victory at Halidon Hill established his reputation as a formidable military commander in Europe.
  • The victory at Halidon Hill placed Edward in a strong political position in Scotland, leading to territorial gains and alliances.
  • Edward's success in Scotland was marred by the constant revolts of Edward Balliol, requiring Edward's intervention.
  • Edward's policies towards Scotland in the 1330s secured England's northern frontier and territorial concessions.
  • The Hundred Years War was triggered by tensions between Edward III and Philip VI of France, stemming from territorial disputes.
  • Edward sought alliances in Europe to support his military campaigns in France, securing troops and logistical support.
  • Edward's claim to the French throne in 1340 marked a significant shift in the war's focus, leading to naval engagements in the English Channel.

49:24

Edward's Victories in France and Scotland

  • Approximately 18,000 French mariners and soldiers died, with over 200 French ships destroyed or captured, and all French senior naval commanders perished.
  • Edward demonstrated his naval prowess by winning a significant victory at Sluys, securing English control over the English Channel for years.
  • Edward faced financial challenges post-Sluys, leading him to return to England secretly in November 1340 to address financial issues with the government.
  • Edward reconciled with the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Stratford, in 1341, before refocusing on Scotland due to ongoing conflicts there.
  • Edward engaged in the War of the Breton Succession in 1341, supporting John de Montfort against King Philip VI of France, marking a significant part of the Hundred Years War.
  • Edward's successful campaign in Brittany allowed him to challenge Philip's authority in France, leading to the preparation of a major invasion force in England in 1345.
  • Edward's invasion of France in 1346 with 12,000-15,000 men aimed at conducting a military raid, showcasing his strategic approach and military revolution.
  • Edward's campaign in France saw the seizure of Caen and a significant victory at the Battle of Crécy on August 26, 1346, where the English longbow proved superior to the French crossbow.
  • Edward's victory at Crécy led to the successful siege of Calais, captured on August 3, 1347, marking a major accomplishment that lasted over two centuries.
  • Edward's triumphs at Crécy and Calais, along with the capture of David II in Scotland, led to a powerful negotiating position, resulting in a truce with France and a return to England in victory.

01:05:23

Edward III: Black Death, Reforms, and Legacy

  • Edward initiated a vast reconstruction of Windsor Castle alongside establishing the Order of the Garter, spending £50,000 on the project, the most expensive building project by an English monarch in the medieval period.
  • Edward inherited Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire, a significant royal residence where the Black Prince was born, later becoming Blenheim Palace.
  • The bubonic plague, known as the Black Death, hit Europe in 1347, causing flu-like symptoms, buboes, and organ failure, killing an estimated 30 million people in Europe from 1347 to 1351.
  • Edward's daughter Joan died from the plague in Bordeaux in 1348, prompting Edward to leave London and practice a form of medieval quarantine in less populated areas.
  • The Black Death caused social and economic disruption in England, leading to abandoned parliament sessions, adjourned courts, mass graves, and quarantine measures.
  • Edward issued the Statute of Labourers in 1351 to regulate the labor market by fixing wages at pre-plague levels, stabilizing the English economy despite labor shortages.
  • The Statute of Labourers, while effective in maintaining the labor market, caused social tensions and unrest among workers who felt disadvantaged.
  • The enforcement of the Statute of Labourers was entrusted to the Justices of the Peace, who gained significance during the crisis, laying the foundation for their modern role in English local government.
  • Edward implemented domestic reforms in the 1350s, including a significant reform of English coinage in 1351, introducing gold coins and the groat.
  • Edward delegated the oversight of domestic policies, like the re-coinage, to officials like John Thoresby and William Shareshull, ensuring the stability of England's finances amid ongoing wars with France and Scotland.

01:22:10

Edward III's Reign and Military Campaigns

  • Active military campaigning recommenced in the autumn of 1359 with an army of over 10,000 men led by Edward marching through eastern and central France.
  • Edward threatened Rheims and Paris but failed to secure a strategic victory to strengthen his position in peace negotiations.
  • The Peace or Treaty of Brétigny was ratified by Edward on October 24, 1360, securing Jean II's release for a ransom of £500,000 and territorial concessions.
  • The Treaty of Brétigny marked a major victory for England in the Hundred Years War, enhancing Edward's reign and territorial possessions in France.
  • In 1362, Edward reformed the wool staple, establishing a new staple at Calais for wool export to the continent, anticipating future market demands.
  • Edward initiated the formal adoption of English as the language of government and courts in England in the 1360s.
  • Edward entrusted the governance of Ireland to his son Lionel of Clarence in the early 1360s, leading to the Statutes of Kilkenny to protect English rule in Ireland.
  • Edward's health began to decline in 1369, limiting his governance role, with his sons and extended family increasingly handling day-to-day functions.
  • Charles V's aggressive actions in France reignited the Hundred Years War in the 1370s, with Edward's sons leading military campaigns as Edward's health deteriorated.
  • English fortunes in France declined in the 1370s without Edward's leadership, leading to the Treaty of Bruges in 1375 and subsequent unrest over the sovereignty of Aquitaine.

01:38:31

Edward III: Stable Reign and Military Successes

  • Edward III died on the 21st of June 1377 at Shene Palace, likely from a stroke, at the age of sixty-four.
  • His reign was marked by stability despite financial strains from wars in France and Scotland.
  • Edward III's grandson, Richard II, succeeded him at the age of ten, ruling until being usurped in 1399.
  • Edward III's reign was an oasis of stability amidst the chaos of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in England.
  • Historians like Ian Mortimer and William Ormrod have restored Edward III's reputation, highlighting his military successes and territorial expansions.
  • Edward III was a skilled military commander, utilizing the English longbow effectively in battles against numerically superior French and Scottish armies.
  • Edward III's legacy extends beyond military prowess, including establishing the Order of the Garter and promoting Middle English as the language of government, contributing to long-term nation-building efforts.
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