King Edward II Biography

King Edward II Biography

Facts and interesting information about this famous Medieval King of England - King Edward II Biography

Short Biography about the life of King Edward II of England
The following biography, short history and interesting facts provide helpful information for history courses and history coursework about the life of King Edward II King of England:

• Country of Origin / Nationality: English

• Also Known by the Nickname: Edward of Caernarvon

• Lifetime: 1284 – 1327

• Period he reigned as King of England: July 7, 1307 - 20 January,1327. His coronation was on February 25, 1308 at Westminster Abbey

• Born: King Edward II was born on April 25, 1284 at Caernarvon Castle

• Close family connections or relatives: He was the son of King Edward I of England by his first wife Eleanor of Castile

• Married: Isabella of France

• Children of King Edward II:

  • King Edward III

  • John, Earl of Cornwall

  • Eleanor of Woodstock

  • Jeanne of the Tower

• Date succeeded to the throne of England: July 7, 1307

• Date when King Edward II died: September 21, 1327. His place of death was believed to be Berkeley Castle

• Cause of the Death of King Edward II: Believed murdered.

• Character of King Edward II: Extravagant, frivolous, easily led

• Why King Edward II was famous: His 'friendship ' with Piers Gaveston and his marriage to Isabella of France. The English defeat at the Battle of Bannockburn

• The terrible Death of King Edward II. There were many rumors about how King Edward II died   elaborated in a history by Sir Thomas More and seen as a deserved end of a homosexual:
  
  "On the night of October 11 (1327 AD) while lying in on a bed (the king) was suddenly seized and, while a great mattress... weighed him down and suffocated him, a plumber's iron, heated intensely hot, was introduced through a tube into his secret parts (into his anus) so that it burned the inner portions beyond the intestines.". This description has been embellished even further and the instrument of death is often referred to as a "Red Hot Poker"

King Edward II
The story and biography of King Edward II which contains interesting information, facts & the history about the life of King Edward II

Timeline of King Edward II

The story of King Edward II ( Nickname : Edward of Caernavon)

King Edward II  was the fourth son of Edward I of England. He was completely the opposite to his father. They argued about young Edward's friendship with a careless young man called Piers Gaveston, who was believed to be his lover. His father had banished this dangerous companion, and forbidden the two young men from ever meeting again. But the moment the old king was dead, he sent for Piers Gaveston again. At the same time his bride arrived - Isabella of France, daughter to the King of France, a beautiful girl and there was a splendid wedding feast; but the king and Gaveston were both so vain and conceited, that they cared more about their own beauty and fine dress than the young queen's, and she found herself totally neglected. The nobles, too, were angered at the airs that Gaveston gave himself; he not only dressed splendidly, had a huge train of servants, and managed the king as he pleased, but he was very insolent to them. King Edward II and Piers Gaveston were wasting the treasury. The barons gathered together and forced the king to send his favorite into banishment. Gaveston went, but he soon came back again and joined the king. The nobles, however, would not endure his return. They seized him, brought him to Warwick Castle and he was beheaded on Blacklow Hill. Edward was full of grief and anger for the cruel death of his friend; but he was forced to keep it out of sight, for all the barons were coming round him for the Scottish war. While he had been wasting his time, Robert Bruce had obtained every strong place in Scotland, except Stirling Castle, and there the English governor had promised to yield, if peace did not come from England within a year and a day. The year was almost over when Edward came into Scotland with a fine army of English, Welsh, and Gascons from Aquitaine; but Robert the Bruce was a great and able general, and Edward II was no general at all; so when the armies met at Bannockburn, under the walls of Stirling, the English were worse beaten than ever they had been anywhere else. Edward was obliged to flee away to England. The king comforted himself with a new friend, Hugh le Despencer.

Queen Isabella now had four children. King Edward II  had never tried to gain her love, and she hated him more and more. There was some danger of a quarrel with her brother, the King of France, and she offered to go with her son Edward, now about fourteen, and settle it. But this was only an excuse. She went about to the princes abroad, telling them how ill she was used by her husband, and asking for help. A good many knights believed and pitied her, and came with her to England to help. All the English who hated the Le Despencers joined her, and she led the young prince against his father. Edward and his friends were hunted across into Wales; but they were tracked out one by one, and the Despencers were put to a cruel death, though Edward gave himself up in hopes of saving them.

The imprisonment of King Edward II
The queen and and her lover, Roger Mortimer made him agree that he did not deserve to reign, and would give up the crown to his son. Then they kept him in prison, taking him from one castle to another, in great misery. The soldiers of his guard mocked him and crowned him with hay, and gave him dirty ditch water to shave with; and when they found he was too strong and healthy to die only of bad food and damp lodging, they murdered him one night in Berkeley Castle. He lies buried in Gloucester Cathedral. He had reigned twenty years, and was dethroned in 1327.

Famous Medieval Kings of the Middle Ages - King Edward II
Interesting facts and information with a short biography about the Medieval Life, Times and history of King Edward II. Additional useful details, facts, history, biography, timeline and information about the lives of all of the Medieval Kings of England and the important events which occurred during their times, can be accessed via the Medieval Life and Times Sitemap. The content of this article on Medieval life and times provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history coursework.