Edward III (1312-77), king of England, was born in Windsor, the son of Edward II and Isabella of France. The scene of Edward’s principal exploits was France. He claimed the crown of that kingdom through his mother Isabella, and in 1337 declared war against Philip VI. In spite of the brilliant sea victory at Sluys (1340), Edward was at first singularly unsuccessful, and he soon found himself at issue with his nobles. At length, in 1346, accompanied by his eldest son, Edward the Black Prince, he conquered a great part of Normandy, marched to the gates of Paris, and on Aug. 26 inflicted a crushing defeat on the French at Crécy. After the fall of Calais (1347) a truce was concluded.

In 1349 the terrible Black Death carried off a third of the total population of England, and permanently changed the relations between laborer and master. In 1351 the Statute of Laborers, to fix the rate of wages, and the Statute of Provisors were passed; followed in 1352 by the Statute of Treasons, and in 1353 by the Statute of Proemunire and of the Staple. [World Wide Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1935]

Notes on Edward III, King of England
Edward was born at Windsor on November 13, 1312, the elder son of King Edward II. Involved by his mother, Isabella Capet of France, in her intrigues against his father, he was proclaimed King after the latter was forced to abdicate in 1327. During Edward’s minority, England was nominally ruled by a council of regency, but the actual power was in the hands of Isabella and her paramour, Roger de Mortimer (1287?-1330). In 1330, however, the young King staged a palace coup and took the power into his own hands. He had Mortimer hanged and confined his mother to her home. Edward began a series of wars almost directly after he had control of England. This turned into the long, drawn-out struggle with France known to history as the Hundred Years’ War. Taking advantage of civil war in Scotland in 1333, he invaded the country, defeated the Scots at Halidon Hill, and restored Edward de Baliol to the throne of Scotland. Baliol, however, was soon deposed, and later attempts by Edward to establish him permanently as King of Scotland were unsuccessful. In 1337, France came to the aid of Scotland. This action was the culminating point in a series of disagreements between France and England, and Edward declared war on Philip VI of France. In 1340, the English fleet destroyed a larger French fleet off Sluis, the Netherlands. The action resulted in a truce that, although occasionally disturbed, lasted for six years. War broke out again in 1346. Edward, accompanied by his eldest son, Edward the Black Prince, invaded Normandy and won a great victory over France in the Battle of Crecy. He captured Calais in 1347, and a truce was reestablished. Edward returned to England, where he maintained one of the most magnificent courts in Europe. The war with France was renewed in 1355, and again the English armies were successful. The Peace of Calais, in 1360, gave England all of Aquitaine, and Edward in return renounced his claim, first made in 1328, to the French throne. Edward continued to assert his will both domestically and abroad. In 1363 he concluded an agreement with his brother-in-law, David II of Scotland, uniting the two kingdoms in the event of David’s death without male issue. Three years later Edward repudiated the papacy’s feudal supremacy over England, held in fief since 1213. He renewed his war with France, disavowing the Peace of Calais. This time, however, the English armies were unsuccessful. After the truce of 1375, Edward retained few of his previously vast possessions in France. The King had, by this time, become senile. He was completely in the power of an avaricious mistress, Alice Perrers (flourished 1366-1400), who, along with his fourth son, John of Gaunt, dominated England. Perrers was banished by Parliament in 1376, and Edward himself died at Sheen (now Richmond), Surrey on 21 Jun 1377. He was succeeded by his grandson, Richard II. {Burke’s Peerage and Chamber’s Biographical Dictionary} [GADD.GED]

Edward III (1312-77), king of England (1327-77), who initiated the long, drawn-out struggle with France called the Hundred Years' War.

Edward was born at Windsor on November 13, 1312, the elder son of King Edward II, of the house of Plantagenet. Involved by his mother, Isabella of France, in her intrigues against his father, he was proclaimed king after the latter was forced to abdicate in 1327. During Edward's minority, England was nominally ruled by a council of regency, but the actual power was in the hands of Isabella and her paramour, Roger de Mortimer. In 1330, however, the young king staged a palace coup and took the power into his own hands. He had Mortimer hanged and confined his mother to her home.

Edward began a series of wars almost directly after he had control of England. Taking advantage of civil war in Scotland in 1333, he invaded the country, defeated the Scots at Halidon Hill, England, and restored Edward de Baliol to the throne of Scotland. Baliol, however, was soon deposed, and later attempts by Edward to establish him permanently as king of Scotland were unsuccessful. In 1337 France came to the aid of Scotland. This action was the culminating point in a series of disagreements between France and England, and Edward declared war on Philip VI of France. In 1340 the English fleet destroyed a larger French fleet off Sluis, the Netherlands. The action resulted in a truce that, although occasionally disturbed, lasted for six years.

War broke out again in 1346. Edward, accompanied by his eldest son, Edward the Black Prince, invaded Normandy and won a great victory over France in the Battle of Crécy. He captured Calais in 1347, and a truce was reestablished. Edward returned to England, where he maintained one of the most magnificent courts in Europe. The war with France was renewed in 1355, and again the English armies were successful. The Peace of Calais, in 1360, gave England all of Aquitaine, and Edward in return renounced his claim, first made in 1328, to the French throne.

Edward continued to assert his will both domestically and abroad. In 1363 he concluded an agreement with his brother-in-law, David II of Scotland, uniting the two kingdoms in the event of David's death without male issue. Three years later Edward repudiated the papacy's feudal supremacy over England, held in fief since 1213. He renewed his war with France, disavowing the Peace of Calais. This time, however, the English armies were unsuccessful. After the truce of 1375, Edward retained few of his previously vast possessions in France.

The king had, by this time, become senile. He was completely in the power of an avaricious mistress, Alice Perrers, who, along with his fourth son, John of Gaunt, dominated England. Perrers was banished by Parliament in 1376, and Edward himself died at Sheen (now Richmond) on June 21, 1377. He was succeeded by his grandson, Richard II. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]

Additional information: Britannia.com

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