The Fall of Edward II

The Fall of Edward II
	The marriage of Edward II and Isabella

Edward and the Despensers

Edward II had been helped in his struggle with Thomas of Lancaster by Hugh Despenser, a capable royal administrator. He was also already friends with his son, Hugh Despenser, who had married Eleanor de Clare, the eldest sister of the Earl of Gloucester.

Ludlow Castle
stronghold of the Mortimer family

After the defeat of Thomas, Edward II called a parliament at York and punished his enemies - some were executed, others fined or exiled.
One of those punished was Roger Mortimer (1287-1330). He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, but escaped to France before he could be executed.

Edward also rewarded his friends - making the elder Hugh Despenser Earl of Winchester. The Earl of Gloucester's death at Battle of Bannockburn also made the younger Hugh extremely wealthy, as his wife inherited much of the land. The two Despensers effectively ran English government in their own interests, and their greed soon became the talk of England.

Edward II's wife, Isabella, grew increasingly alienated by Despenser power and a number of important magnates and bishops looked to her to organize opposition to the new favorites. In March 1325 Isabella went to France, and in September was joined by her son, Prince Edward.

Charles welcoming Isabella to France

Isabella and Roger Mortimer began an adulterous affair, and other exiles (including the Earl of Kent) also rallied to Isabella.

The exiles obtained the support of William, Count of Hainault in exchange for a promise to marry Prince Edward to the Count's daughter Philippa. [They were later married, 24 January 1327.]

Isabella and her allies sailed for England 23-24 September 1326. English sailors refused to put to sea against them, and local lords ignored orders to levy military forces.

Edward II found little support in London, and the Despensers fled the capital, heading west. Shortly afterwards, one of Edward's supporters, the Bishop of Exeter was attacked by a London mob, that beheaded him with a butcher's knife as he fled for refuge in St Paul's churchyard.

The mob moved on to the Tower of London where it demanded and obtained the release of Roger Mortimer's sons and of Prince John (second son of Edward II).

Isabella and her army moved west in pursuit of Edward. They stopped at Bristol for long enough to hang Hugh the Elder for "treason" (27 October 1326.)

Edward II and Hugh the Younger had made for Chepstow - apparently hoping to sail to the Isle of Lundy (Despenser land) and from there to Ireland - but they were prevented by bad weather.
They moved on to Glamorgan in the hope of finding help in Despenser lands but were captured by Henry, Earl of Lancaster (younger brother of Thomas.)

After a brief trial, Hugh the Younger was also executed (29 November 1326) and his head sent to London for display on London Bridge.

	Isabella assembled Parliament in January 1327 at Westminster. London asked for the king's deposition. The bishops joined in - the Bishop of Winchester preached on the text "A foolish king shall ruin his people," the Bishop of Winchester expounded "my head is sick," and the Archbishop of Canterbury advocated Edward's deposition using the maxim "vox populi vox dei" (the voice of the people is the voice of God.)
	Parliament passed "Articles of Deposition" and from 25 January 1327, Edward III was officially King of England.
	Edward II was imprisoned in Berkeley Castle (April 1327,) but two attempts made to free him alarmed Isabella and Mortimer. In September 1327, they announced that Edward II was dead.
	Edward II did have to face serious problems that were beyond his control - in particular poor harvests and economic decline. However, most of his problems were of his own making - he was idle, indecisive, hopelessly given to favoritism, undignified, and completely unable to learn from his own mistakes. In an age of personal monarchy, the reign of someone with such qualities spelt disaster for the crown.