Year of the Three Edwards
Year of the Three Edwards
From alt-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Year of the Three Edwards, or the Year of the Three Kings, refers to the year 1377 in English history. The year is considered memorable because of the deaths of two kings in quick succession, leading to three monarchs of the same name in the same year. The three kings who reigned over England in 1377 were Edward III, Edward IV and Edward V.
Background
Edward III became king of England following the abdication of his father, Edward II, in 1327. He was only 14 years old and, as a minor, he served as a figurehead for the rule of Roger Mortimer, 1st earl of March. Edward III took personal control of royal government in 1330 and reigned until his death in 1377. In that time, he led successful campaigns in Scotland and declared himself the rightful king of France, setting off the Hundred Years War. His eldest son and heir, Edward of Woodstock, prince of Wales, better known as the Black Prince, was celebrated for his military leadership on campaigns in France and Castile, winning unlikely victories at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and the Battle of Nájera in 1367. The Black Prince was 47 in 1377. He had two sons, the eldest of which was Edward of Angoulême, age 12.
Rapid succession
Edward III suffered a major stroke late in the spring of 1377 and died on 21 June. He was succeeded by the Black Prince, who became Edward IV. The military successes of his youth made Edward IV popular with the higher nobility despite a recent feud with parliament, but he had been in ill health for nearly a decade by the time of his father's death.
Edward IV still accomplished some of his duties as king despite his illness. A coronation was planned for 6 August to coincide with the Feast of the Transfiguration. The traditional rubric for the coronation of an English king was revised to stress the authority of the monarch and consecrate the line of succession with the investiture of Angoulême as prince of Wales. Already too ill to ride a horse, the long ceremony so taxed the king's fragile health that he had to be wrapped in a cloth of gold and nailed into a carriage so that he did not topple over on the ride to the Tower from Westminster Abbey. He was bedridden for the remainder of his reign and died after 100 days of rule on 29 September. Angoulême then succeeded to the throne as Edward V.
Aftermath
The deaths of Edward III and Edward IV threw the kingdom into disarray. Edward III's health had appeared to be mending early in the spring, and he had been well enough in April to attend the annual festivities of the Order of the Garter, where he knighted his grandson, Angoulême. Edward IV had successfully hidden the seriousness of his condition since his return to England in 1371. He had managed a practically vacant household and kept all but the most necessary figures away, appearing in public only in times of improved health. His attendance of the 1376 parliament had given him the appearance of a healthy man. Their deaths in quick succession therefore shocked the country, depressing English morale amid renewed hostilities with France and causing legal chaos, as writs issued in their names to diplomats and military commanders carried no authority after their deaths.
The succession of the 12-year-old Edward V required a regency government. In accordance with plans drawn up by Edward IV before his death, the responsibilities for the government and person of Edward V were divided between two of Edward IV's surviving brothers: John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, was made lord regent and managed the government of the realm while Edmund of Langley, 1st duke of Aumale, was made lord protector and managed the welfare of Edward V as the king's guardian.
From alt-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Year of the Three Edwards, or the Year of the Three Kings, refers to the year 1377 in English history. The year is considered memorable because of the deaths of two kings in quick succession, leading to three monarchs of the same name in the same year. The three kings who reigned over England in 1377 were Edward III, Edward IV and Edward V.
Background
Edward III became king of England following the abdication of his father, Edward II, in 1327. He was only 14 years old and, as a minor, he served as a figurehead for the rule of Roger Mortimer, 1st earl of March. Edward III took personal control of royal government in 1330 and reigned until his death in 1377. In that time, he led successful campaigns in Scotland and declared himself the rightful king of France, setting off the Hundred Years War. His eldest son and heir, Edward of Woodstock, prince of Wales, better known as the Black Prince, was celebrated for his military leadership on campaigns in France and Castile, winning unlikely victories at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and the Battle of Nájera in 1367. The Black Prince was 47 in 1377. He had two sons, the eldest of which was Edward of Angoulême, age 12.
Rapid succession
Edward III suffered a major stroke late in the spring of 1377 and died on 21 June. He was succeeded by the Black Prince, who became Edward IV. The military successes of his youth made Edward IV popular with the higher nobility despite a recent feud with parliament, but he had been in ill health for nearly a decade by the time of his father's death.
Edward IV still accomplished some of his duties as king despite his illness. A coronation was planned for 6 August to coincide with the Feast of the Transfiguration. The traditional rubric for the coronation of an English king was revised to stress the authority of the monarch and consecrate the line of succession with the investiture of Angoulême as prince of Wales. Already too ill to ride a horse, the long ceremony so taxed the king's fragile health that he had to be wrapped in a cloth of gold and nailed into a carriage so that he did not topple over on the ride to the Tower from Westminster Abbey. He was bedridden for the remainder of his reign and died after 100 days of rule on 29 September. Angoulême then succeeded to the throne as Edward V.
Aftermath
The deaths of Edward III and Edward IV threw the kingdom into disarray. Edward III's health had appeared to be mending early in the spring, and he had been well enough in April to attend the annual festivities of the Order of the Garter, where he knighted his grandson, Angoulême. Edward IV had successfully hidden the seriousness of his condition since his return to England in 1371. He had managed a practically vacant household and kept all but the most necessary figures away, appearing in public only in times of improved health. His attendance of the 1376 parliament had given him the appearance of a healthy man. Their deaths in quick succession therefore shocked the country, depressing English morale amid renewed hostilities with France and causing legal chaos, as writs issued in their names to diplomats and military commanders carried no authority after their deaths.
The succession of the 12-year-old Edward V required a regency government. In accordance with plans drawn up by Edward IV before his death, the responsibilities for the government and person of Edward V were divided between two of Edward IV's surviving brothers: John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, was made lord regent and managed the government of the realm while Edmund of Langley, 1st duke of Aumale, was made lord protector and managed the welfare of Edward V as the king's guardian.
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I'm going to look forward to seeing where this goes, and good luck on your first timeline!
