Changes

The political turmoil brought on by Gaveston and his death had allowed the situation in Scotland to deteriorate. In 1306 Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick (who had earlier supported then turned against William Wallace), had had himself crowned King of the Scots. He and his followers were defeated by English and he was forced into hiding; but the death of Edward and the subsequent ineptitude of Edward II had allowed him to regain and then consolidate his power. He still had control of only parts of Scotland though. In 1312-4 Robert made use of English disunity to attempt the takeover of more of Scotland. In 1314 he besieged Stirling Castle. A major English force, led by Edward, marching to relieve the castle, was resoundingly defeated at the Battle of Bannockburn.

The political turmoil brought on by Gaveston and his death had allowed the situation in Scotland to deteriorate. In 1306 Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick (who had earlier supported then turned against William Wallace), had had himself crowned King of the Scots. He and his followers were defeated by English and he was forced into hiding; but the death of Edward and the subsequent ineptitude of Edward II had allowed him to regain and then consolidate his power. He still had control of only parts of Scotland though. In 1312-4 Robert made use of English disunity to attempt the takeover of more of Scotland. In 1314 he besieged Stirling Castle. A major English force, led by Edward, marching to relieve the castle, was resoundingly defeated at the Battle of Bannockburn.

In 1324 hostilities broke out in France. Edward sent his Queen and his eldest son to Paris to negotiate with the French Isabella took the opportunity to gain support to raise an army to invade England. She also took a lover, Roger Mortimer, one of Edward’s alienated  barons. In 1226 she landed in England to receive immediate support from many of the barons, and the City of London. Edward was captured in Wales, and formally deposed by Parliament in  January1327.  He died, almost certainly murdered, in Berkeley Castle in September 1327.

In 1324 hostilities broke out in France. Edward sent his Queen and his eldest son to Paris to negotiate with the French Isabella took the opportunity to gain support to raise an army to invade England. She also took a lover, Roger Mortimer, one of Edward’s alienated  barons. In 1226 she landed in England to receive immediate support from many of the barons, and the City of London. Edward was captured in Wales, and formally deposed by Parliament in  January1327.  He died, almost certainly murdered, in Berkeley Castle in September 1327. He was killed by having a white hot poker pushed up his rectum, ostensibly in order not to leave any marks on the exterior of his body, but possibly an expression of the earthy medieval sense of humour which characterises [[Chaucer]]'s Miller's Tale, referring to Edward's brazen homosexuality.

Isabelle and Mortimer took the reins of power, ostensibly in the name of the fourteen year-old Edward III.

Isabelle and Mortimer took the reins of power, ostensibly in the name of the fourteen year-old Edward III.