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Birth:          13 Nov 1312 Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England
Christening:    20 Nov 1312 
Death:          21 Jun 1377 Shene Palace, Surrey, England
Burial:         Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Middlesex, England

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_III_of_England
Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377) was King of England from 25 January 
1327 until his death; he is noted for his military success and for restoring royal 
authority after the disastrous and unorthodox reign of his father, Edward II. Edward III 
transformed the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in 
Europe. His long reign of fifty years was the second longest in medieval England and 
saw vital developments in legislation and government—in particular the evolution of the 
English parliament—as well as the ravages of the Black Death.

Edward was crowned at age fourteen after his father was deposed by his mother, 
Isabella of France, and her lover Roger Mortimer. At age seventeen he led a 
successful coup against Mortimer, the de facto ruler of the country, and began his 
personal reign. After a successful campaign in Scotland he declared himself rightful 
heir to the French throne in 1337 but his claim was denied. This started what would 
become known as the Hundred Years' War.[1] Following some initial setbacks the war 
went exceptionally well for England; victories at Crécy and Poitiers led to the highly 
favourable Treaty of Brétigny. Edward's later years, however, were marked by 
international failure and domestic strife, largely as a result of his inactivity and poor 
health.

Edward III was a temperamental man but capable of unusual clemency. He was in 
many ways a conventional king whose main interest was warfare. Admired in his own 
time and for centuries after, Edward was denounced as an irresponsible adventurer by 
later Whig historians such as William Stubbs. This view has been challenged recently 
and modern historians credit him with some significant achievements.[2][3]
Edward was born at Windsor Castle on 13 November 1312, and was often referred to 
as Edward of Windsor in his early years.[4] The reign of his father, Edward II, was a 
particularly problematic period of English history.[5] One source of contention was the 
king's inactivity, and repeated failure, in the ongoing war with Scotland.[6] Another 
controversial issue was the king's exclusive patronage of a small group of royal 
favourites.[7] The birth of a male heir in 1312 temporarily improved Edward II's 
position in relation to the baronial opposition.[8] To bolster further the independent 
prestige of the young prince, the king had him created Earl of Chester at only twelve 
days of age.[9]

In 1325, Edward II was faced with a demand from his brother-in-law, Charles IV of 
France, to perform homage for the English Duchy of Aquitaine.[10] Edward was 
reluctant to leave the country, as discontent was once again brewing domestically, 
particularly over his relationship with the favourite Hugh Despenser the Younger.[11] 
Instead, he had his son Edward created Duke of Aquitaine in his place and sent him 
to France to perform the homage.[12] The young Edward was accompanied by his 
mother Isabella, who was the sister of King Charles, and was meant to negotiate a 
peace treaty with the French.[13] While in France, however, Isabella conspired with 
the exiled Roger Mortimer to have Edward deposed.[14] To build up diplomatic and 
military support for the venture, Isabella had Prince Edward engaged to the twelve-
year-old Philippa of Hainault.[15] An invasion of England was launched and Edward 
II's forces deserted him completely. The king was forced to relinquish the throne to his 
son on 25 January 1327. The new king was crowned as Edward III on 1 February 
1327.[16]

It was not long before the new reign also met with other problems caused by the 
central position at court of Roger Mortimer, who was now the de facto ruler of 
England. Mortimer used his power to acquire noble estates and titles, and his 
unpopularity grew with the humiliating defeat by the Scots at the Battle of Stanhope 
Park and the ensuing Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton, signed with the Scots in 
1328.[17] Also the young king came into conflict with his guardian. Mortimer knew his 
position in relation to the king was precarious and subjected Edward to disrespect. 
The tension increased after Edward and Philippa, who had married at York Minster on 
24 January 1328, had a son on 15 June 1330.[18] Eventually, Edward decided to take 
direct action against Mortimer. Aided by his close companion William Montagu and a 
small number of other trusted men, Edward took Mortimer by surprise at Nottingham 
Castle on 19 October 1330. Mortimer was executed and Edward III's personal reign 
began.[19]
Issue[edit]

Main article: Issue of Edward III of England


Name

Birth

Death

Notes

Edward, the Black Prince 15 June 1330
Woodstock Palace, Oxfordshire 8 June 1376 Married his cousin Joan, Countess of 
Kent on 10 October 1361; Had issue (King Richard II of England). 
Isabella 16 June 1332
Woodstock Palace, Oxfordshire April 1379 or 17 June/5 October 1382 Married 
Enguerrand VII de Coucy, 1st Earl of Bedford on 27 July 1365; Had issue. 
Joan 19 December 1333 or 28 January 1334[125]
Tower of London 1 July 1348 Was betrothed to Pedro of Castile but died of the plague 
en route to Castile before the marriage could take place. Pedro's two daughters from 
his union with María de Padilla would later marry Joan's younger brothers John and 
Edmund. 
William of Hatfield 16 February 1337
Hatfield, South Yorkshire before 3 March 1337 Died shortly after birth. Buried at York 
Minster. 
Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence 29 November 1338
Antwerp 7 October 1368 Married (1) Elizabeth de Burgh, 4th Countess of Ulster in 
1352; Had issue. Married (2) Violante Visconti on 28 May 1368; No issue. 
John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster 6 March 1340
Ghent 3 February 1399 Married (1) Blanche of Lancaster on 19 May 1359; Had issue 
(Henry IV of England). Married (2) Infanta Constance of Castile in 1371; Had issue. 
Married (3) Katherine Swynford (formerly his mistress) in 1396; Had issue. The Dukes 
of Beaufort continue in the male line today. 
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York 5 June 1341
Kings Langley, Hertfordshire 1 August 1402 Married (1) Infanta Isabella of Castile 
sister of Gaunt's second wife; Had issue. Married (2) Joan Holland (his 2nd cousin) in 
1392. No issue. 
Blanche 
March 1342
Tower of London
 Died shortly after birth. Buried at Westminster Abbey. 
Mary 10 October 1344
Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire September 1361 Married John IV, Duke of Brittany on 3 
July 1361; No issue. 
Margaret 20 July 1346
Windsor 1 October/25 December 1361 Married John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke 
on 13 May 1359; No issue. 
Thomas of Windsor[126] Summer 1347[126]
Windsor September 1348 Died in infancy of the plague. Buried at King’s Langley 
Church, Hertfordshire 
William of Windsor before 24 June 1348
Windsor before 5 Sep 1348 Buried at Westminster Abbey. 
Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester 7 January 1355
Woodstock Palace, Oxfordshire 8/9 September 1397 Married Eleanor de Bohun in 
1376; Had issue. 

Parents
____ Edward II (25 Apr 1284 - 21 Sep 1327)
OF FRANCE Isabella (1292 - 21 Nov 1358)

Siblings
____ Edward III (13 Nov 1312 - 21 Jun 1377)

Marriage To OF HAINAULT Philippa (24 Jun 1311 - 15 Aug 1369)
    m. 24 Jan 1327 York, Yorkshire, England

Notes

Parents
D'AVESNES William (Willem) III (1286 - 7 Jun 1337)
DE VALOIS Joan (Jeanne) (1294 - 7 Mar 1342)

Children by OF HAINAULT Philippa 24 Jun 1311 - 15 Aug 1369
PLANTAGENET Lionel of Antwerp (29 Nov 1338 - 17 Oct 1368)
OF GAUNT John (Mar 1340 - 3 Feb 1399)
____ Edmund "of Langley" (5 Jun 1341 - 1 Aug 1402)

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