Historical
and Commemorative Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
EDWARD III DASSIER, Jean: England, 1731, Bronze, 41 mm Edward III (Edward of Windsor) 1312-1377) was king of
England from 1327 to 1377. He was the eldest son of Edward II and Isabella
of France. In 1328 Edward married Philippa. During the first three years of
his reign, his mother, Isabella and Roger Mortimer wielded all the political
power. In 1330 Edward mounted a successful coup and sought to remake England
into the powerful nation it had been under Edward I. During the 1330s
England gradually drifted into a state of hostility with France, thus
starting the 100 years’ war. He led several campaigns in France, was present
in person at the great naval battle off the Flemish city of Sluis in 1340,
in which he all but destroyed the French navy and won a victory at Crecy in
1346, claiming the title of King of France. In 1356 Edward’s son, Edward the
Black Prince, captured John II (The Good) of France at the Battle of
Poitiers. During Edwards III’s reign, the Black Death brought heavy
mortality to his country. Domestically, Parliament was divided into two
Houses and was permanently located at Westminster. He spent much time and
money in rebuilding Windsor Castle. He also instituted the Order of the
Garter, which became Britain’s highest order of knighthood. In his old age,
Edward’s sons, Edward the Black Prince, and John of Gaunt, took over the
government. He was succeeded by his grandson,
Richard II.
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