Edward, the Black Prince

Edward, the Black Prince married his cousin, Joan who was the Countess of Kent, in 1361 and they had two sons, Edward and Richard. He also became the step-father to Joan’s children from a previous marriage including Thomas and John Holland.

He had several illegitimate children including Sir Roger Clarendon with Edith de Willesford and three other sons named Edward, Sir John Sounder and Sir Charles FitzEdward.

Edward, the Black Prince died on June 8, 1376 at the Westminster Palace. His death was the culmination of illness he contracted during his 1366 campaign to Spain in order to restore Don Pedro the Cruel to the throne of Castille.

Edward was born on June 15, 1330 at the Royal Palace of Woodstock in Oxfordshire as the eldest son to King Edward III and Queen Philippa.

He was created Earl of Chester in 1333 and the Duke of Cornwall in 1337. For the next few years he became the guardian of the kingdom when his father was away for war. He became the Prince of Wales in 1343.

Edward was knighted by King Edward III in 1345 at La Hogue. Edward actively aided his father at the Battle of Crecy the next year and possibly earned the title ‘The Black Prince’ for his black armor.

At the Crecy battle, an army of English, Welsh and allied troops led by Edward III defeated the combined army of French, Genoese and Majorcan troops led by Philip VI.

In spite of being heavily outnumbered Edward III won convincingly due to the introduction of weapons such as the longbow and cannons. In order to further their expeditions in France the army needed supplies and reinforcements.

Edward III needed a port where his army could be resupplied and the most fitting place to do so was the English Channel port at Calais. The town had a double moat coupled with strong and high walls and so did the citadel located inside. The town could serve as a perfect place for the king’s purpose with the added incentive of being defendable by sea.

Edward III’s army reached Calais in September 1346. Nothing was achieved by both the sides for the next two months as neither could cut off the supplies of the other. Edward III received them from England and Flanders, while Philip VI of France received them from loyal French sailors.

Out of all the achievements of the Black Prince, the ones that stood out were the roles he played in the battles of Crecy and Poitiers. At the Crecy battle, an army of English, Welsh and allied forces led by Edward III defeated the combined army of French, Genoese and Majorcan troops led by Philip VI. At the battle of Poitiers he fought and won against King John II of France.