WhoWasRuling.com

Portrait of Edward III of England

Edward III of England

Reign: 1327 – 1377
Life: 1312–1377

The warrior-king Edward III came to the crown after his mother, Queen Isabella ("The She-Wolf of France"), deposed his father, Edward II, and ruled as de facto regent alongside her paramour, Roger Mortimer. Eventually, Edward seized control from his mother and her lover through a midnight coup, executing Mortimer and sentencing his mother to house arrest. Edward launched the Hundred Years' War by claiming the French crown through his mother's lineage, and England became one of the most formidable European military powers under his rule. The arrival of the Black Death midway through his reign wiped out over a third of the English population, however Edward's regime survived the plague intact.

During Edward III of England's reign, Orhan ruled Ottoman Empire, Afonso IV of Portugal ruled Portugal, and Ashikaga Takauji ruled Japan (Shogunate).

Want to learn more? Further reading

Edward III by W. Mark Ormrod

Some book links on this site point to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, WhoWasRuling.com may earn from qualifying purchases.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Spotted an error?

The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

Meanwhile in history

One “meanwhile in history” story each week: who ruled where, and what was happening on thrones across the world.

By subscribing you agree to receive emails from us. See our Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe any time.

From the library

Go deeper on Edward III of England

Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

Cover of Edward III

Recommended read

Edward III

W. Mark Ormrod

A monumental Yale biography of the king who launched the Hundred Years' War.

Find this book on Amazon

The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III
Ian Mortimer
Mortimer's lively reappraisal of Edward as chivalric hero and shrewd political operator.
Find on Amazon

Some book links on this site point to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, WhoWasRuling.com may earn from qualifying purchases.