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Edward II

King of England from 1307 to 1327

44 dated entries naming Edward II, drawn from 29 separate years between 1284 CE and 1386 CE. Nothing here is written by us: each line is the sentence a Wikipedia year article used, and the link beside it opens the exact revision.

Also written as Edward II of England, Edward of Caernarfon, King Edward II of England in the source articles; Wikipedia redirects those to the same subject, so their entries are on this page.

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13th century

  • 1284March 3 – Statute of Rhuddlan: King Edward I of England brings Wales under direct rule after the Welsh Wars (1277–1283). He appoints sheriffs and bailiffs for the northern territories while the southern areas are left under the control of the Marcher Lords. English law is introduced in criminal cases, though the Welsh are allowed to maintain their customary laws in some cases of property disputes. He arranges a Round Table (tournament) at Nefyn in Wales and promises the Welsh that he will provide them with a Prince of Wales. On April 25, his son, the future Edward II of England, is born at Caernarfon Castle in Wales.source
  • 1284April 25 – Edward II, king of England (died 1327)source
  • 1289Summer – King Edward I (Longshanks) proposes a marriage between his infant son, Edward of Caernarfon, and the 6-year-old Margaret (Maid of Norway).source
  • 1297April 14 – King Edward I of England makes an appeal outside Westminster Hall for support for the war against France. He apologizes for the high tax demands he has previously levied. Edward asks the Barons (some 1,500 knights) to swear allegiance to his 12-year-old son, Prince Edward of Caernarfon. Aware of the dangers of the opposition to his power, Edward appears before a large crowd and receives total loyalty.source
  • 1300June 24 – English invasion of Scotland (1300): On Midsummer Day, after crossing the border from England into Scotland, England's King Edward I holds a conference at English-occupied Scottish territory at Roxburgh with his advance force. King Edward starts another Scottish campaign and marches north with his army, accompanied by several knights of Brittany and Lorraine. The 16-year-old Prince Edward of Caernarfon is appointed to take command of the rearguard of the English army but part from a small skirmish, he sees no action.source

14th century

  • 1301February 7 – The 16-year-old Prince Edward of Caernarfon, son and heir of King Edward I ("Edward Longshanks"), becomes the first English Prince of Wales and is also granted the royal lands in Wales.source
  • 1301September 2 – In their invasion of Scotland, English troops under the command of Prince Edward of Caernarfon and Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, capture Turnberry Castle in Carrick, the headquarters of the Bruces.source
  • 1303May 20 – Treaty of Paris: King Philip the Fair of France signs a peace treaty with Edward Longshanks, King of England. According to the terms of the treaty, Gascony is restored to England – as well as the cities of Bordeaux and Bayonne. In return, Edward swears allegiance to Philip as his vassal and agrees that Philipp's daughter, Isabella of France, be married to his son Edward of Caernarfon, until she is old enough.source
  • 1306May 22 – Feast of the Swans: At Westminster Abbey King Edward I of England proclaims that all squires, who agree to march in an invasion of Scotland, will be knighted. After the feast, the King has two swans brought in and swears "before God and the swans" to avenge the murder of Lord John Comyn III of Badenoch, the desecration of Greyfriars Church in Dumfries by Robert Bruce, and to fight the infidels in the Holy Land. The King knights his son, Prince Edward of Caernarfon. The Prince knights 266 other men. King Edward then gives his "Raise the Dragon" orders, proclaiming that no mercy is to be granted to Scotland, and all Scots taken in arms are to be executed without trial. Among the persons knighted, the King appoints Aymer de Valance, lieutenant for Scotland. Valence will make his base at Perth, along with Henry Percy and Robert Clifford, to organize an army.source
  • 1306September 13 – In Scotland, English forces under Edward of Caernarfon capture and sack Kildrummy Castle in Aberdeenshire. Edward takes Elizabeth de Burgh, Christina Bruce and Mary Bruce (sisters of Robert the Bruce), and Princess Marjorie Bruce (daughter of Bruce) as prisoners. He executes Nigel de Brus (younger brother of Bruce) for high treason, who is later hanged, drawn and quartered at Berwick.source
  • 1307July 7 – King Edward I of England, known as Edward Longshanks, dies at Burgh by Sands after a 34-year reign. He is succeeded by his son 23-year-old Edward II, who becomes new ruler of England. After his death Edward's body is embalmed and transported to Waltham Abbey in Essex. Here it lay unburied for several weeks so that people can come and see the body lying in state. After this, Edward is taken to Westminster Abbey for a proper burial on October 28.source
  • 1308January 25 – King Edward II marries the 13-year-old Isabella of France, daughter of King Philip IV of France ("Philip the Fair"). The marriage takes place at Boulogne and Edward leaves his friend and favourite, Piers Gaveston, as regent in his absence. Isabella's wardrobe indicates her wealth and style – she has dresses of silk, velvet, taffeta and cloth along with numerous furs; she has over 72 headdresses and coifs. Isabella brings with her two gold crowns, gold and silver dinnerware and 419 yards of linen. Meanwhile, Edward alienates the nobles by placing Gaveston in such a powerful position, who react by signing the Boulogne agreement on January 31.source
  • 1309October 18 – King Edward II summons a council to meet at York, but several nobles (the earls of Lancaster, Lincoln, Warwick, Oxford and Arundel) refuse to attend due to Piers Gaveston's attendance. Since he returned from exile, Gaveston tries to alienate the nobles from the king.source
  • 1310February 9 – At Dublin, acting in his capacity as Lord of Ireland, King Edward II of England (as Éadbhard II Shasana, Tiarna Éireann) opens the first session of the Parliament of Ireland during his administration. The Irish Parliament will hold 14 sessions before being dismissed in 1326.source
  • 1310August – King Edward II invades Scotland for the first timesource
  • 1310September 20 – King Edward II of England reaches Roxburgh after starting his invasion of the Kingdom of Scotland "in the third week of September". The campaign is fruitless, even though English forces under Piers Gaveston manage to reach as far north as Perth.source
  • 1310October 1 – Writing from Kildrum, King Robert the Bruce of Scotland attempts to establish peace talks with King Edward II of England (who is encamped in Scotland at Biggar) but Edward refuses to negotiate.source
  • 1311August – King Robert the Bruce retaliates for Edward II's invasion the previous year by invading northern England.source
  • 1311August 16 – The Parliament of England presents the Ordinances of 1311 to King Edward II (document dated 5 October; published on 11 October); these substitute the 21 Lord Ordainers for the King as the effective government of the country.source
  • 1311October 11 – The Ordinances of 1311 are published in England by King Edward II, restricting the power of the monarchs of England.source
  • 1312January 13 – English royal favourite Piers Gaveston, having returned secretly from two months exile on the continent, is reunited, probably at Knaresborough Castle, with King Edward II, who on January 18 restores all Gaveston's confiscated lands to him. They plan to travel to Scotland to seek help from King Robert the Bruce.source
  • 1312November 13 – Four years after the marriage of King Edward II of England and Queen consort Isabella, an heir to the throne is born at Windsor Castle, and will be christened four days later. Prince Edward. Upon the death of Edward II in 1327, his son will be crowned King Edward III at the age of 14.source
  • 1314June 17 – First War of Scottish Independence: English forces led by King Edward II leave Berwick-upon-Tweed to march to break the Scottish siege of Stirling Castle. They cross the River Tweed at Wark and Coldstream and march west across the flat Merse of Berwickshire towards Lauderdale. In Earlston, Edward uses an old Roman road through the Lammermuir Hills, practical for the wheeled transport of a long supply train as well as the cavalry and infantry.source
  • 1315Spring – Great Famine of 1315–1317: A famine and pestilence sweeps over Europe, and exacts so frightful a toll of human life that the phenomenon is to be regarded as one of the most impressive features of the period. It covers almost the whole of Northern Europe; the current territory of Ireland, England, France, Netherlands, Germany and Poland. Heavy rains and unseasonably cold weather, the ensuing harvest failures and death of livestock from starvation, and the sharp rise in food prices cause an acute shortage of food that will last for two years. The famine causes millions of deaths (according to estimates, around 10 to 25% of the urban population dies). On August 10, King Edward II of England witnesses its extent in his realm when he and his entourage stop at St Albans and find bread and other food unavailable.source
  • 1315January 2 – King Edward II of England buries his friend Piers Gaveston (executed 1312) having secured a papal absolution in one of the last acts of Pope Clement V. The burial takes place somewhere near the King's Langley Priory in Hertfordshire, but the location of the tomb is subsequently forgotten. Gaveston had been excommunicated before his death.source
  • 1315July 31 – King Louis X of France mobilizes an army along the Flemish border. He prohibits the export of grain and other goods to Flanders – which proves challenging to enforce. Louis pressures officers of the Church at the borderlands, as well as King Edward II, to support his effort to prevent Spanish merchant vessels from trading with the embargoed Flemish cities.source
  • 1316January 28 – Llywelyn Bren leads a revolt against English rule in Wales. After disregarding an order to appear before King Edward II, Llywelyn Bren raises a rebel army and lays siege to Caerphilly Castle. The revolt spreads throughout the south Wear Cove (the Wales valley), and other castles are attacked. Edward sends an expeditionary force led by Humphrey de Bohun to suppress the rebellion. In March, after a battle at Morgraig Castle Llywelyn Bren is forced to break off the Caerphilly siege after six weeks and surrenders on March 18.source
  • 1317May 13 – King Edward II restores the dower lands that had been surrendered by Margaret de Clare, widow of Piers Gaveston.source
  • 1318April 2 – After a two-day battle, Scottish forces under James the Black retake Berwick-upon-Tweed. The fall of Berwick is a severe blow for King Edward II, and its loss is compounded by the fall of the Northumbrian castles of Wark-on-Tweed (Carham Castle), Harbottle and Mitford.source
  • 1319September 20 – Battle of Myton: Scottish forces (some 15,000 men) led by James the Black, Lord Douglas, defeat an English army in an encounter known as the "Chapter of Myton" because of the large number of clergymen involved. David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, writes 460 years later, "The English were instantly routed. Three thousand were left dead on the field, and great part of fugitives drowned in the Swale. In this action there fell three thousand ecclesiastics, [20th September.] According to the savage peasantry of those times, this rout was termed by the Scots, the Chapter of Mitton." After the battle, King Edward II is forced to raise the siege at Berwick Castle and retreats south of the River Trent, allowing the Scots to ravage Cumberland and Westmorland unmolested. Queen Isabella, who is in York at this time, manages to escape to safety at Nottingham.source
  • 1320June 4 – King Edward II of England appoints Lord Pembroke as keeper of the realm before traveling to France.source
  • 1321January 19 – King Edward II of England appoints the Archbishop of York; the Bishops of Carlisle, Worcester, and Winchester; the Earls of Pembroke, Hereford and Badlesmere; and six other people to negotiate with Scotland for a final peace treaty or an extension of the Pembroke treaty of 1319 before its expiration on Christmas Day.source
  • 1321August 14 – King Edward II of England agrees to the demands from his barons to send Hugh Despenser the Elder and his son Hugh Despenser the Younger into exile. The Despensers helped Edward in the administration of his financial and land management affairs. This gives them both the opportunity to frustrate the ambitions of the barons and also the chance to enrich themselves.source
  • 1322March 10 – "Despenser War": Battle of Burton Bridge – King Edward II of England orders an attack on the fortified positions of the Contrariant army under his cousin Thomas of Lancaster at Walton-on-Trent in the Midlands. Thomas is heavily outnumbered and decides to withdraw, but is pursued by Edward's troops. He escapes with the remnants of his army to Tutbury Castle and evades Edward's patrols to cross the flooded River Dove. Finally, Thomas makes his way northwards.source
  • 13233 March – Andrew Harclay executed for treason by Edward II of England.source
  • 1323May 30 – King Edward II of England makes a 13-year truce with Scotland at York. Despite the truce, Edward refuses to accept Robert the Bruce as ruler of an independent Scottish kingdom.source
  • 1325March 31 – A truce is signed between King Edward II of England (who is also Duke of Aquitaine within France) and King Charles IV of France to end the War of Saint-Sardos. Under terms negotiated by England's Queen Isabella (who is King Edward's wife and King Charles's sister), Edward cedes Agenais (part of modern-day France's Lot-et-Garonne département) and pledges to swear homage to King Charles from then on as a condition of keeping the rest of Aquitaine. England is allowed to reclaim Ponthieu and the Duchy of Gascony if Edward will come to Paris to pay him homage. Isabella, unhappy with her marriage to Edward, remains in France indefinitely.source
  • 1326September 24 – Invasion of England: Isabella of France and her supporters (including Roger Mortimer) land at the River Orwell in Suffolk. Their aim is to remove King Edward II from his throne and place Prince Edward there as the new ruler. Meanwhile, residing at the Tower of London, Edward tries to raise support in the capital, but instead, there is anarchy in London and mobs killing Edward's officials (including his treasurer, Walter de Stapledon).source
  • 1327January 20 – Imprisoned in Warwickshire, King Edward II of England is forced to abdicate by his estranged wife, Queen Isabella, and her lover, Roger Mortimer.source
  • 1327April 5 – Edward II is moved to Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. He is kept under the custody of Roger Mortimer's son-in-law, Thomas Berkeley and John Maltravers, who are given £5 a day to look after him. Despite records showing luxury goods being bought for him, Edward is possibly mistreated by his captors.source
  • 1327September 21 – Edward Caernarfon, former King of England (born 1284)source
  • 1355April 22 – Eleanor of Woodstock, countess regent of Guelders, eldest daughter of King Edward II of England (born 1318)source
  • 1358August 22 – Isabella of France, queen consort of Edward II of England (born 1295)source
  • 1386July 9 – John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and oldest surviving son of the late King Edward II of England, departs from England with 5,000 men and a fleet of English and Portuguese ships to make good his claim to the throne of Castile. John, whose nephew became King Richard II upon Edward's death, claims the Castilian throne by right of his marriage to Constanza of Castile in 1371.source

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