Editing Edward II of England (section)

==Fall from power (1326–1327)==
===Rift with Isabella===
[[File:Isabela Karel Eda.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=painting of Edward III giving homage to King Charles|The future [[Edward III]] giving homage in 1325 to Charles&nbsp;IV under the guidance of Isabella of France]]

Isabella, with Edward's envoys, carried out negotiations with the French in late March.<ref name="Phillips2011P472">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=472}}.</ref> The negotiations proved difficult, and they arrived at a settlement only after Isabella personally intervened with her brother, Charles.<ref name=Phillips2011P472/> The terms favoured the French Crown: In particular, Edward would give homage in person to Charles for Gascony.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=472–473}}.</ref> Concerned about the consequences of war breaking out once again, Edward agreed to the treaty but decided to give Gascony to his son, Edward, and sent the prince to give homage in Paris.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=473–476}}.</ref> The young Prince Edward crossed the English Channel and completed the bargain in September.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=479}}.</ref>{{Efn|Edward's lawyers put forward various arguments in the dispute with the French kings. One line of argument stemmed from the 1259 treaty agreed by Edward's grandfather, Henry&nbsp;III, under which Henry had agreed to give homage for Gascony; Edward's lawyers observed that this treaty, which underpinned Edward's 1303 treaty with France, had been a bilateral agreement between the two kings, rather than a conventional feudal agreement. As such, Edward's offering homage for Gascony was dependent on the French crown delivering on its own commitments, rather than an absolute duty. Edward's lawyers also argued that Isabella had a potential claim to the lands in the south under customary French law. When granting Gascony to Isabella, Phillip&nbsp;IV appeared to have been dividing up his lands, as was customary at the time, rather than giving a conditional grant, which meant that Gascony was an [[allod]], Edward's personal property, and as such not subject to the French king's laws on the carrying of weapons or money.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hallam|Everard|2001|pp=322, 387}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=19–20, 305–306}}.</ref>}}

Edward now expected Isabella and their son to return to England, but instead she remained in France and showed no intention of making her way back.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=485–486}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=169}}.</ref> Until 1322, Edward and Isabella's marriage appears to have been successful, but by the time Isabella left for France in 1325, it had deteriorated.<ref>{{Harvnb|Doherty|2004|pp=78–79}}.</ref> Isabella appears to have disliked Hugh Despenser the Younger intensely, not least because of his abuse of high-status women.<ref>{{Harvnb|Doherty|2004|pp=74–75}}.</ref> Isabella was embarrassed that she had fled from Scottish armies three times during her marriage to Edward, and she blamed Hugh for the final occurrence in 1322.<ref>{{Harvnb|Doherty|2004|pp=75–77}}.</ref> When Edward had negotiated the recent truce with Robert the Bruce, he had severely disadvantaged a range of noble families who owned land in Scotland, including the Beaumonts, close friends of Isabella.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=437–438}}.</ref> She was also angry about the arrest of her household and seizure of her lands in 1324. Finally, Edward had taken away her children and given custody of them to Hugh Despenser's wife.<ref>{{Harvnb|Doherty|2004|pp=79–80}}.</ref>

By February 1326 it was clear that Isabella was involved in a relationship with an exiled Marcher Lord, Roger Mortimer.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=488–489}}.</ref> It is unclear when Isabella first met Mortimer or when their relationship began, but they both wanted to see Edward and the Despensers removed from power.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=489–491}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=169}}.</ref>{{Efn|Historian Roy Haines stresses the lack of evidence for any earlier relationship, while Paul Doherty argues that there is no evidence for them having been closely involved before December 1325, although he suspects that they may have been friends by 1323. While agreeing that there is no documentary evidence available, [[Ian Mortimer (historian)|Ian Mortimer]] takes a more radical perspective, arguing that they met much earlier, and that Isabella helped Mortimer escape from the Tower of London in 1323.<ref>{{Harvnb|Mortimer|2004|p=284}}; {{Harvnb|Doherty|2004|pp=86–88}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=169}}.</ref>}} Edward appealed for his son to return, and for Charles to intervene on his behalf, but this had no effect.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=495}}.</ref>

Edward's opponents began to gather around Isabella and Mortimer in Paris, and Edward became increasingly anxious about the possibility that Mortimer might invade England.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=491–492}}.</ref> Isabella and Mortimer turned to [[William I, Count of Hainaut]], and proposed a marriage between Prince Edward and William's daughter, [[Philippa of Hainault|Philippa]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=493–494}}.</ref> In return for the advantageous alliance with the English heir to the throne, and a sizeable dower for the bride, William offered 132 [[transport vessel]]s and eight [[warship]]s to assist in the invasion of England.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=493–494, 500–501}}.</ref> Prince Edward and Philippa were betrothed on 27 August, and Isabella and Mortimer prepared for their campaign.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=500–501}}.</ref>

===Invasion===
{{Main article|Invasion of England (1326)}}
[[File:Replica of Oxwich Brooch.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=photograph of replica Oxwich Brooch|Replica of the [[Oxwich Castle#The Oxwich Brooch|Oxwich Brooch]], found at [[Oxwich Castle]] in Wales, and probably owned by Edward and looted during the events of 1326<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=519}}.</ref>]]

During August and September 1326, Edward mobilised his defences along the coasts of England to protect against the possibility of an invasion either by France or by Roger Mortimer.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=501–502}}.</ref> Fleets were gathered at the ports of [[Portsmouth]] in the south and [[River Orwell|Orwell]] on the east coast, and a raiding force of 1,600 men was sent across the English Channel into [[Normandy]] as a diversionary attack.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=502}}.</ref> Edward issued a nationalistic appeal for his subjects to defend the kingdom, but with little impact.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ruddick|2013|p=205}}.</ref> The regime's hold on power at the local level was fragile, the Despensers were widely disliked, and many of those Edward entrusted with the defence of the kingdom proved incompetent or promptly turned against the regime.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=160–164, 174–175}}.</ref> Some 2,000 men were ordered to gather at Orwell to repel any invasion, but only 55 appear to have actually arrived.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=501, 504}}.</ref>

Roger Mortimer, Isabella and thirteen-year-old Prince Edward, accompanied by King Edward's half-brother Edmund of Woodstock, landed in Orwell on 24 September with a small force of men and met with no resistance.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=504}}.</ref> Instead, enemies of the Despensers moved rapidly to join them, including Edward's other half-brother, Thomas of Brotherton; [[Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster]], who had inherited the earldom from his brother Thomas; and a range of senior clergy.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=503–504}}.</ref> Ensconced in the residence halls of the fortified and secure [[Tower of London]], Edward attempted to garner support from within the capital. The city of London rose against his government, and on 2 October he left London, taking the Despensers with him.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=505}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=178–179}}.</ref> London descended into anarchy, as mobs attacked Edward's remaining officials and associates, killing his former treasurer Walter Stapledon in [[St Paul's Cathedral]], and taking the Tower and releasing the prisoners inside.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=506–507}}.</ref>

Edward continued west up the [[Thames Valley]], reaching Gloucester between 9 and 12 October; he hoped to reach Wales and from there mobilise an army against the invaders.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=508}}.</ref> Mortimer and Isabella were not far behind. Proclamations condemned the Despensers' recent regime. Day by day they gathered new supporters.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=508–509}}.</ref> Edward and the younger Despenser crossed over the border and set sail from [[Chepstow]], probably aiming first for [[Lundy]] and then for Ireland, where the king hoped to receive refuge and raise a fresh army.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=510–511}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=181}}.</ref> Bad weather drove them back, though, and they landed at [[Cardiff]]. Edward retreated to [[Caerphilly Castle]] and attempted to rally his remaining forces.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=512}}.</ref>

Edward's authority collapsed in England where, in his absence, Isabella's faction took over the administration with the support of the Church.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=512–513}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=187}}.</ref> Her forces surrounded Bristol, where Hugh Despenser the Elder had taken shelter; he surrendered and was promptly executed.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=181}}.</ref> Edward and Hugh the Younger fled their castle around 2 November, leaving behind jewellery, considerable supplies, and at least £13,000 in cash, possibly once again hoping to reach Ireland, but on 16 November they were betrayed and captured by a search party north of Caerphilly.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=514–515}}.</ref> Edward was escorted first to [[Monmouth Castle]], and from there back into England, where he was held at the Earl of Lancaster's fortress at [[Kenilworth Castle|Kenilworth]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=515, 518}}.</ref> Edward's final remaining forces, by now besieged in Caerphilly Castle, surrendered after four months in March&nbsp;1327.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=186}}.</ref>

===Abdication===
{{Main|Parliament of 1327}}
[[File:Eduard2 arest.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|alt=painting of Isabella capturing Edward|A 15th-century depiction of Isabella capturing Edward]]

Isabella and Mortimer rapidly took revenge on the former regime. Hugh Despenser the Younger was put on trial, declared a traitor and sentenced to be [[disembowelled]], [[castrated]] and [[Dismemberment|quartered]]; he was duly executed on 24 November 1326.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=516–518}}.</ref> Edward's former chancellor, Robert Baldock, died in [[Fleet Prison]]; the Earl of Arundel was beheaded.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=516}}.</ref> Edward's position, however, was problematic; he was still married to Isabella and, in principle, he remained the king, but most of the new administration had much to lose were he to be released and potentially regain power.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=520–522}}.</ref>

There was no established procedure for removing an English king.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=523–524}}.</ref> Adam Orleton, the [[bishop of Hereford]], made a series of public allegations about Edward's conduct as king, and in January 1327 a parliament convened at Westminster at which the question of Edward's future was raised; Edward refused to attend the gathering.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=524–525}}.</ref> Parliament, initially ambivalent, responded to the London crowds that called for the king's son Edward to take the throne. On 12 January the leading barons and clergy agreed that Edward&nbsp;II should be removed and replaced by his son.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=526}}.</ref> The following day it was presented to an assembly of the barons, where it was argued that Edward's weak leadership and personal faults had led the kingdom into disaster, and that he was incompetent to lead the country.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=529–530}}.</ref>

Shortly after this, a representative delegation of barons, clergy and knights was sent to Kenilworth to speak to the king.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=533}}.</ref> On 20 January 1327, the Earl of Lancaster and the [[John de Stratford|bishops of Winchester]] and [[Henry Burghersh|Lincoln]] met privately with Edward in the castle.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=534}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=191}}.</ref> They informed Edward that if he were to resign as monarch, his son Edward would succeed him, but if he failed to do so, his son might be disinherited as well, and the crown given to an alternative candidate.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=534}}.</ref> In tears, Edward agreed to abdicate, and on 21 January, Sir [[William Trussell]], representing the kingdom as a whole, withdrew his homage and formally ended Edward's reign.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=535}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=191–192}}.</ref> A proclamation was sent to London, announcing that Edward, now known as Edward of Caernarvon, had freely resigned his kingdom and that his son Edward would succeed him. The coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 1 February 1327.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=536, 539, 541}}.</ref>