Edward III, called Edward of Windsor 1312-77
King of England

Born in Windsor, he was the son of Edward II, who was forced to abdicate in his favour (1327). During his minority the country was governed by his mother, Isabella, sister of Charles IV of France, and her lover, Roger de Mortimer. Edward married Philippa of Hainault (1328), executed Mortimer, banished his mother and assumed full control of the government (1330). He successfully supported Edward de Balliol against David II of Scotland, and David sought refuge in France (1333-1341). Balliol failed to hold Scotland, and despite successive English invasions the Scots rallied each time. Edward then claimed the French Crown, declared war against Philip VI (1337), and started the Hundred Years War. He raised money for the war by tallages, forced loans, and by seizing wool, but was increasingly reduced to offering privileges in exchange for funds, which devalued royal authority and wrecked the country's public finances. He destroyed the French navy at Sluys (1340), and in 1346, with his son, Edward, the Black Prince, conquered a large part of Normandy and defeated the French at Cr�cy. There were further successes, and Calais fell after a year's siege. Meanwhile the Scots had been defeated at Neville's Cross (1346), and David II was captured and imprisoned. In England, a third of the population died from the Black Death (1349). War in France was renewed (1355) with a great victory at Poitiers (1356), where King John II of France was taken prisoner. Unable to raise his proposed ransom, he died in captivity in London (1364). A three-year truce was concluded in 1374, but Edward had failed to win the French crown, and his extravagance and constant betrayals of trust had alienated both parliament and public. His mistress, Alice Perrers, became increasingly influential, until his fourth (third surviving) son, John of Gaunt, took over the government. The Black Prince, opposed to his father's policy, died the year before the king.

Bibliography: M Packe, Edward III (1983)