B
orn on 25th April, 1248 at Caernarfon Castle, Wales, Edward II was the fourth son of King Edward of England. He was titled as the ‘Prince of Wales’ when he was seventeen. After the death of his elder brother, Prince Alphonso, Edward II became the heir of the great King Edward’s throne. Prince Edward’s reign as the ruler of England began at 1307 when his father died at the age of sixty-eight due to dysentery. The 20 years long reign of the first British ‘Prince of Wales’ is often regarded as inglorious due to many lesser known aspects of his life.
1.Relation with Piers Gaveston
The tall and handsome youth, Edward II was often claimed to be homo-sexual due to his excessive devotion towards an English nobleman of Gascon origin, Piers Gaveston. King Edward I banished Gaveston during his reign but after his death, King Edward II re-called him. He was even given precious jewels by Edward II which he received as presents when he married, Isabella of France. Later, Gaveston was made the Earl of Cornwall by the king.
” class=”img-responsive” src=”https://lapol0.s3.amazonaws.com/media/None/Queen-Isabella-Prince-of-Wales-Lapolo_R9SAwCb.png” style=”width:100%” />
3.The Battle of Bannockburn
The encounter between Edward II and Scottish king Robert the Bruce was one of the most resounding defeats in British history. The English army was hemmed in to a tight space in between the River Forth and the Bannockburn. The Scots bore down on them and routed Edward's army, inflicting a devastating defeat. King Edward himself vanished from the battlefield and took shelter in Dunbar from where he went back to England using a boat.
” class=”img-responsive” src=”https://lapol0.s3.amazonaws.com/media/None/Edward_II-and-his_-favouritesPrince-of-Wales-Lapolo.jpg” style=”width:100%” />
