Edward II of England

According to the customary practice amongst the royal families of those times, Edward II’s marriage was more of an imperial arrangement to strengthen the kingdom rather than a love alliance. After a string of failed associations, his marriage to Isabella of France was fixed.

King Edward II tied the nuptial knot to Isabella on January 25, 1308. The couple was blessed with four children, Edward III, John, Eleanor and Joan. King Edward II also fathered an illegitimate son Adam from his relationship with mistresses.

His marriage to Isabella was mostly successful. However, Isabella’s visit to Paris in 1325 changed the course of their relationship and the impending future of the couple. In Paris, she became a mistress to Roger Mortimer. The two carefully planned the invasion of England and subsequent execution of King Edward II.

Edward II was born on April 25, 1284 at Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd. He was the fourth son of the King and Queen of England, Edward I and Eleanor of Castile. His three elder brothers died before he was born, leaving him as the only heir to the throne.

In his early years, Edward II was mostly looked after by his foster mother, Alice de Leygrave. Information regarding his education is speculative. It is believed that while his religious education was taken care of by Dominican friars, Guy Ferre trained him in riding and military services.

During his father’s absence in 1297, Edward II took over as the regent in charge of England for a year. In 1300, the father-son duo set forth to Scotland, with young Edward as commander of the rearguard, at the siege of Caerlaverock.

He was made Prince of Wales in 1301, thus becoming the first English Prince to hold the title.

During the early 1300s, Prince Edward befriended Piers Gaveston, son of the King's household knights. The two shared a close relationship. This close friendship augmented Gaveston’s social status largely. In 1306, Prince Edward was knighted by the King.

In 1307, Gaveston was exiled to Gascony. It is speculated that the King’s order for exile was as a response to a suggestion made by Prince Edward to give Gaveston the County of Ponthieu which he had inherited from his mother. Some even suggest that Gaveston and Prince Edward shared a sexual relationship

In 1307, Robert the Bruce jumped to power as the King of the Scots, thus disintegrating King Edward I’s dream of a unified British nation. Though Prince Edward II was appointed as the head of the expedition against Bruce, his forces had to retreat following orders from King Edward I.