Edward II was born in 1284, took the throne in 1307 and died a little under 20 years later in 1327. An official Welshman having been born in Caernarfon Castle, he was 23 when he took the throne after his older brother Alphonso died and his father Edward the first had also passed.
A year later he had married Isabella of France, the daughter of King Philip IV in a bid to resolve the long-running tensions between Great Britain and France.
He had an strong friendship with a nobleman called Piers Gaveston which provoked discontent from the French royal family and local English baron’s. A few years later after forcing Edward to exile Piers the barons finally ended the friendship by executing Piers which caused King Edward to launch an attack on his cousin the Earl of Lancaster who was eventually sentenced to death for treason.
With all of this going on Edward II also suffered a defeat at the famous Battle of Bannockburn(1314) to Robert the Bruce. It was the constant threat and unsuccessful battles with Scotland during his reign that finally sealed Edwards fate. Especially when a renewed war with France started in 1324.
His Wife, Isabella and young son Edward, travelled to France in 1326 to complete a peace treaty with the country. But they stayed in France and didn’t return to England.
When they did return it was to remove Edward II from the throne. Although they only had a small number of soldiers with them, they met with no resistance from the English and were quickly joined by Edward II’s enemy’s.
Hearing this Edward II left London and headed west to seek refuge in his birthplace of Caernarfon Castle. He got as far as Caerphilly castle when Isabella’s forces drew near. Edward fled the castle on November 2nd 1326 and got as far as our very own Pant-y-brad when he was captured. Its suspected that he was heading towards our St John’s church but was captured just short.
There now arose a problem. Edward was still King and Isabella his wife. There was no process for removing a king from the throne. On January 21st 1327, Edward formally abdicated and was replaced by his son Edward III. After abdicating the crown, He was taken to Gloucester where he stayed for a few months. But when concerns about him returning to power gained traction he was executed in Berkeley Castle on 21st September 1327.
Had he made it to St John’s with the friendly clergy our story might have had a different ending. There is a plaque in Pant-y-brad commemorating his capture.
