Editing Edward II of England (section)

==Later reign (1321–1326)==
===The Despenser War===
{{Main article|Despenser War}}
The long-threatened [[Despenser War|civil war]] finally broke out in England in 1321,<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=372–378}}.</ref> triggered by the tension between many of the barons and the royal favourites, the Despenser family.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=121–123}}.</ref> [[Hugh Despenser the Elder]] had served both Edward and his father, while Hugh Despenser the Younger had married into the wealthy de&nbsp;Clare family, become the King's [[chamberlain (office)|chamberlain]], and acquired Glamorgan in the [[Welsh Marches]] in 1317.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=364–365}}.</ref> Hugh the Younger subsequently expanded his holdings and power across Wales, mainly at the expense of the other [[Marcher Lord]]s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=365–366}}.</ref> The Earl of Lancaster and the Despensers were fierce enemies, and Lancaster's antipathy was shared by most of the Despensers' neighbours, including the Earl of Hereford, the [[Mortimer#Medieval magnates|Mortimer family]] and the recently elevated Hugh Audley and Roger Damory.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=364, 366–367}}.</ref> Edward, however, increasingly relied on the Despensers for advice and support, and he was particularly close to Hugh the Younger, whom one chronicler noted he "loved&nbsp;... dearly with all his heart and mind".<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=367–368}}.</ref>

In early 1321, Lancaster mobilised a coalition of the Despensers' enemies across the Marcher territories.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=374–375}}.</ref> Edward and Hugh the Younger became aware of these plans in March and headed west, hoping that negotiations led by the moderate Earl of Pembroke would defuse the crisis.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=375–377}}.</ref> This time, Pembroke made his excuses and declined to intervene, and war broke out in May.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=376–377}}.</ref> The Despensers' lands were quickly seized by a coalition of the Marcher Lords and the local gentry, and Lancaster held a high-level gathering of the barons and clergy in June which condemned the Despensers for having broken the Ordinances.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=377–379}}; {{Harvnb|Jordan|1996|p=84}}.</ref> Edward attempted reconciliation, but in July the opposition occupied London and called for the permanent removal of the Despensers.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=383–387}}.</ref> Fearing that he might be deposed if he refused, Edward agreed to exile the Despensers and pardoned the Marcher Lords for their actions.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=390}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=128–129}}.</ref>

Edward began to plan his revenge.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=394}}.</ref> With the help of Pembroke, he formed a small coalition of his half-brothers, a few of the earls and some of the senior clergy, and prepared for war.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=395–397}}.</ref> Edward started with [[Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere]], and Isabella was sent to Bartholomew's stronghold, [[Leeds Castle]], to deliberately create a ''[[casus belli]]''.<ref name="Phillips2011P397">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=397}}.</ref> Bartholomew's wife, [[Margaret de Clare, Baroness Badlesmere|Margaret]], took the bait and her men killed several of Isabella's retinue, giving Edward an excuse to intervene.<ref name=Phillips2011P397/> Lancaster refused to help Bartholomew, his personal enemy, and Edward quickly regained control of south-east England.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=397–398}}.</ref> Alarmed, Lancaster now mobilised his own army in the north of England, and Edward mustered his own forces in the south-west.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=399–400}}.</ref> The Despensers returned from exile and were pardoned by the royal council.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=400–401}}.</ref>

In December, Edward led his army across the [[River Severn]] and advanced into the Welsh Marches, where the opposition forces had gathered.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=403–404}}.</ref> The coalition of Marcher Lords crumbled and the Mortimers surrendered to Edward,<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=404}}.</ref> but Damory, Audley, and the Earl of Hereford marched north in January to join Lancaster, who had laid siege the king's castle at [[Tickhill Castle|Tickhill]].<ref name="Phillips2011PP406407">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=406–407}}.</ref> Bolstered by fresh reinforcements from the Marcher Lords, Edward pursued them, meeting Lancaster's army on 10 March at [[Burton-on-Trent]]. Lancaster, outnumbered, retreated without a fight, fleeing north.<ref name=Phillips2011PP406407/> [[Andrew Harclay]] cornered Lancaster at the [[Battle of Boroughbridge]], and captured the earl.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=408}}.</ref> Edward and Hugh the Younger met Lancaster at [[Pontefract Castle]], where, after a [[summary trial]], the earl was found guilty of treason and beheaded.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=408–409}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=141}}.</ref>

===Edward and the Despensers===
[[File:Philippe4 eduard2 ludvikNavarra.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=painting of Edward hunting|Edward (third from the left) hunting with Philip&nbsp;IV]]

Edward punished Lancaster's supporters through a system of special courts across the country, with the judges instructed in advance how to sentence the accused, who were not allowed to speak in their own defence.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=410–411}}.</ref> Many of these so-called "Contrariants" were simply executed, and others were imprisoned or fined, with their lands seized and their surviving relatives detained.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=411–413}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=144}}.</ref> The Earl of Pembroke, whom Edward now mistrusted, was arrested; he was released only after pledging all his possessions as [[Collateral (finance)|collateral]] for his own loyalty.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=425}}.</ref> Edward was able to reward his loyal supporters, especially the Despenser family, with the confiscated estates and new titles.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=417}}.</ref> The fines and confiscations made Edward rich: almost £15,000 was brought in during the first few months, and by 1326, Edward's treasury contained £62,000.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=419}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=151}}.</ref> A parliament was held at York on 2 May 1322 at which the Ordinances were formally revoked through the [[Statute of York]], and fresh taxes agreed for a new campaign against the Scots.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=423–425}}.</ref>

The English campaign against Scotland was planned on a massive scale, with a force of about 23,000 men.<ref name="Phillips2011PP426">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=426–427}}.</ref> Edward advanced through [[Lothian]] towards [[Edinburgh]], but Robert the Bruce declined to meet him in battle, drawing Edward further into Scotland. Plans to resupply the campaign by sea failed, and the large army rapidly ran out of food.<ref name=Phillips2011PP426/> Edward was forced to retreat south of the border, pursued by Scottish raiding parties.<ref name=Phillips2011PP426/> Edward's illegitimate son, Adam, died during the campaign, and the raiding parties almost captured Isabella, who was staying at [[Tynemouth]] and was forced to flee by sea.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=428–431}}.</ref> Edward planned a fresh campaign, backed by a round of further taxes, but confidence in his Scottish policy was diminishing.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=433}}.</ref> Andrew Harclay, instrumental in securing Edward's victories the previous year and recently made the [[Earl of Carlisle]], independently negotiated a peace treaty with Robert the Bruce, proposing that Edward would recognise Robert as the King of Scotland and that, in return, Robert would cease to interfere in England.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=423–433}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=148}}.</ref> Edward was furious and immediately executed Harclay, but agreed to a thirteen-year truce with Robert.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=434–435}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=273}}.</ref>

Hugh Despenser the Younger lived and ruled in grand style, playing a leading role in Edward's government, and executing policy through a wide network of family retainers.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=440–442, 445}}.</ref> Supported by Chancellor [[Robert Baldock]] and Lord Treasurer [[Walter Stapledon]], the Despensers accumulated land and wealth, using their position in government to provide superficial cover for what historian Seymour Phillips describes as "the reality of fraud, threats of violence and abuse of legal procedure".<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=445–446}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=157}}.</ref> Meanwhile, Edward faced growing opposition. [[Miracle]]s were reported around the late Earl of Lancaster's tomb, and at the [[gallows]] used to execute members of the opposition in Bristol.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=436}}.</ref> Law and order began to break down, encouraged by the chaos caused by the seizure of lands.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=419–420}}.</ref> The old opposition consisting of Marcher Lords' associates attempted to free the prisoners Edward held in [[Wallingford Castle]], and [[Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March|Roger Mortimer]], one of the most prominent of the imprisoned Marcher Lords, escaped from the [[Tower of London]] and fled to France.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=438, 440–441}}.</ref>

===War with France===
{{Main article|War of Saint-Sardos}}
The disagreements between Edward and the French Crown over the Duchy of Gascony led to the [[War of Saint-Sardos]] in 1324.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=455–456}}.</ref> [[Charles IV of France|Charles]], Edward's brother-in-law, had become King of France in 1322, and was more aggressive than his predecessors.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=456}}.</ref> In 1323, he insisted that Edward come to Paris to give homage for Gascony, and demanded that Edward's administrators in Gascony allow French officials there to carry out orders given in Paris.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=456–457}}.</ref> Matters came to a head in October when a group of Edward's soldiers hanged a French sergeant for attempting to build a new [[bastide|fortified town]] in the [[Agenais]], a contested section of the Gascon border.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=461–462}}.</ref> Edward denied any responsibility for this incident, but relations between Edward and Charles soured.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=274–275}}.</ref> In 1324, Edward dispatched the Earl of Pembroke to Paris to broker a solution, but the earl died suddenly of an illness along the way. Charles mobilised his army and ordered the invasion of Gascony.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=461, 464–465}}.</ref>

Edward's forces in Gascony were around 4,400 strong, but the French army, commanded by [[Charles of Valois]], numbered 7,000.<ref name="Phillips2011P464">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=464}}.</ref> Valois took the Agenais and then advanced further and cut off the main city of [[Bordeaux]].<ref name=Phillips2011P464/> In response, Edward ordered the arrest of any French persons in England and seized Isabella's lands, on the basis that she was of French origin.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=466}}.</ref> In November 1324 he met with the earls and the English Church, who recommended that Edward should lead a force of 11,000 men to Gascony.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=467}}.</ref> Edward decided not to go personally, sending instead the Earl of Surrey.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=468}}.</ref> Meanwhile, Edward opened up fresh negotiations with the French king.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=469}}.</ref> Charles advanced various proposals, the most tempting of which was the suggestion that if Isabella and Prince Edward were to travel to Paris, and the prince was to give homage to Charles for Gascony, he would terminate the war and return the Agenais.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=470}}.</ref> Edward and his advisers had concerns about sending the prince to France, but agreed to send Isabella on her own as an envoy in March 1325.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=470–471}}.</ref>