Who was Edward, England's Black Prince?
Roots
Edward of Woodstock was born on June 15, 1330, at Woodstock Palace, Oxfordshire, England.
Claim to two thrones
Being the first son of the English king, Edward had a claim to the English throne. But he also had a claim to the French throne, because his grandmother, Queen Isabella (pictured), was a daughter of Philip IV of France.
Titles
Edward became Earl of Chester in 1333, Duke of Cornwall in 1337, and Prince of Wales in 1343. He later became Prince of Aquitaine from 1362 to 1372.
Edward's first battle
The prince had his first taste of war in July 1346, when he traveled with his father to France. The 16-year-old participated in the Battle of Crécy.
Battle of Crécy
On August 26, 1346, the prince received the sacrament alongside his father before the battle. Edward was in charge of the van (the vanguard of the army, composed of archers and foot soldiers).
During the battle, the French Duke of Alencon charged Edward and his unit. Noblemen on the battlefield sent a messenger to warn King Edward III that his son was in danger. But the king, knowing that Edward had not been harmed, refused to send help.
Siege of Calais
Edward's second campaign was the Siege of Calais, which took place from 1346 to 1347. The town surrendered to the English and upon his return, Edward was honored with the Order of the Garter.
Black Death
King Edward III paused his military endeavors in both France and Scotland as the plague spread across Europe in the late 1340s. Prince Edward lost his sister, Joan of England, to the disease in 1348.
Battle of Poitiers
In 1356, when the plague was no longer a threat, another battle took place: the Battle of Poitiers. Prince Edward once again proved he was a true warrior and worthy of being a ruler. So much so, that the win is attributed to him rather than to his father.
This was an important win for England, who captured the French king, John II “the Good” and sent him to England where he was held for ransom.
Spanish chapter
In 1365, the prince traveled to Spain and helped the deposed King Pedro “the Cruel“ of Castile defeat his brother, Henry of Trastamara, who had challenged Pedro for the throne.
The Black Prince's Ruby
The Black Prince's Ruby is still part of the Crown Jewels. The ruby sits in the cross pattée at the front of the Imperial State Crown.
Siege of Limoges
In August 1370, Johan De Cross welcomed French troops into the town. A French garrison of around 140 men stayed. Upon hearing the news, Prince Edward along with two of his brothers, John of Gaunt and Edmund of Langley, gathered a 3,000-men army.
Edward lost one of his two sons
Prince Edward’s eldest son, Edward of Angoulême, was just five years old when he died in 1371. Grief consumed the prince, whose health began to deteriorate thereafter.
Death
Prince Edward died on June 8, 1376, at the age of 45. The cause of death is unknown, but many hypotheses have been put forward, including cancer, sclerosis, nephritis, dysentery, and war wounds.
Why was Prince Edward known as the Black Prince?
Edward did not become known as the Black Prince until his death. During his lifetime, he was mostly referred to as Prince Edward, Edward of Woodstock, or Young Edward.
The most plausible theory is that it's a reference to the color of his armor, which was almost always black.
