Edward III

The English Monarchs

by W. Mark Ormrod

Edward III (1312–1377) was the most successful European ruler of his age. Reigning for over fifty years, he achieved spectacular military triumphs and overcame grave threats to his authority, from parliamentary revolt to the Black Death. Revered by his subjects as a chivalric dynamo, he initiated the Hundred Years' War and gloriously led his men into battle against the Scots and the French. In this illuminating biography, W. Mark Ormrod takes a deeper look at Edward to reveal the man beneath the military muscle. What emerges is Edward's clear sense of his duty to rebuild the prestige of the Crown, and through military gains and shifting diplomacy, to secure a legacy for posterity. New details of the splendor of Edward's court, lavish national celebrations, and innovative use of imagery establish the king's instinctive understanding of the bond between ruler and people. With fresh emphasis on how Edward's rule was affected by his family relationships—including his roles as traumatized son, loving husband, and dutiful father—Ormrod gives a valuable new dimension to our understanding of this remarkable warrior king.

Genres: History, Biography, Medieval, Nonfiction, Medieval History, Biography Memoir, British Literature

720 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2011

About the author

A specialist in the political structures and ideas of later medieval England, William Mark Ormrod, DPhil (Oxon), FSA, FRHistS, was a Professor in the Department of History and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of York. He was a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Society of Antiquaries, served on a number of AHRC committees, was a Trustee of the Richard III and Yorkist History Trust, a Councillor of the Pipe Roll Society, and a former Councillor of the Royal Historical Society.

Chair of the British Academy English Episcopal Acta Project and a member of the Comitato Scientifico of the Datini Institute, Prato, Mark was a former general editor of York Medieval Press, a member of the editorial board of the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal and a co-editor of Fourteenth-Century England.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with Henry II, Edward I and Henry V, Edward III (1312-1377) was one of the great kings of medieval England. Not noted for his intellectual or aesthetic achievements, he had a great heart, inspired loyalty throughout his reign and carried English arms to glory at Crecy, Poitiers and Sluys - he was responsible for kicking off what became known as The Hundred Years War. During his long reign, he managed to upgrade and increase the effectiveness of government in England, especially in the realms of finance and local dispensation of justice. On the downside, one could say that his constant obsession to enlarge his kingdom through foreign wars in France, Scotland and even Spain weakened his kingdom in the long run, and the jury is still out as to whether his many offspring were a factor that created stability or the lack of it in the long run in the lead up to the (civil) War of the Roses. His continual need for hard cash to finance his military adventures was a major factor in the increased power and influence of Parliament, no small feat in the light of military emergency. All in all, a fascinating character. Professor Ormrod does his best - given the lack of sources - to bring the inner man to life and also provides us with a primer on how government, diplomacy and war functioned (or didn't) in the Middle Ages. Well-written and even entertaining, this work will be the go-to book on Edward III for many years to come. First rate.

[Carolina Casas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full in scope, it gives a full background of Edward's reign and the period he lived in, as well as providing new perspective. While many of his policies were innovative they weren't new, they had their predecessors going all the way back to his grandfather and namesake. The Edward that emerges from Ormond's biography is ambitious, scheming (plotting with the pope and other councilors to get rid of Mortimer) but also pragmatic and a great military commander who had a great team of administrators and above all, a man not afraid to compromise when the occasion called for it. Ormond also puts his flaws, while a careful administrator and able leader, his taxation crippled many and there were times when he was forced to submit to Paliament's rule and the commons' representatives. This is not a sign of weakness, as Edward was a great negotiator and nothing he did came without a price. The last years of his reign however after his wife and eldest son died, became decadent and this is seen through the demans of the Good Parliament that Ormond goes over in various sections. I like the narrative, and that he went step by step explaining how each group was relevant in medieval society and how much it infouenced or was affected by Edward's policies. I only wish it had more details, it seemed as if each part was a short summary and he kept reeating himself at times. Nonetheless, it was still a good book.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, in depth study of the reign of Edward lll - which brings both the man and the time in which he lived to life. It took me a while to work out what the system of ninths (tax) and fifteenths were, I think this could have been better explained. Also the use of various titles, e.g. Edward ll was also known as Edward of Caernarfon, Edward lll as Edward of Windsor; and Edward lll’s eldest son, who I know as the Black Prince, is another Edward this time of Woodstock. Thank heaven for the internet!

[Rodney Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want details, which I like, this is possibly the best book on Edward III. The constant flash-back to previous events is the only reason it lost a star.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. If you enjoy reading about English history and English people, this is a great book. Edward III is very inspirational. His itinerary for his entire adult life is included in the back of the book. Basically, Edward III was on the move from town to town across England and France every four or five days for most of his life. Although Edward III's parent had a dysfunctional marriage, Edward himself had a happy marriage with twelve children, all of whom he paid attention to and kept occupied. An amazing achievement. He instituted things such as the role of Speaker of the House in the House of Commons. This book is packed with drama, excitement and the grand sweep of historical events.

[Evi Routoula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed biography of King Edward III. A great source for the beginning of the One Hundred War,the battles of Crecy and Poitiers, the legends of the Black Prince, the war with Scotland, the Order of the Garter, shuch a far away and mythical time. A wonderful reading for all people who like history.

[Sally O'wheel]

This book was very long and assumed knowledge about the events which I didn't have. I found it hard to understand. It was mostly a story of how this war lord, Edward III, fleeced his people to fund his wars in France and Scotland, where his army devastated the land and people, burning their villages and crops, This was written about as if it was normal behaviour. The Black Death which occurred during Edward's reign, where something like 25% of the population died, or more, is mentioned in passing. I found that astonishing. I would have expected that to take up a major part of the story.

[Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

$3.24

Edward III ruled England for just over 50 years during the 14th century, but who knew so much was written and recorded about him that this author could write such a comprehensive biography on him? If there is something/anything about Edward III, then I’d be willing to wager that the author has found it. With his knowledge, I would like to take a class from him, but reading this book was more work than pleasure. However Edward had what would be called a successful reign even though the country was at war with France for a great deal of the time (the beginning of The Hundred Years War), and when it wasn’t at war, he was dealing with the black plague, and his people were taxed to the breaking point. On top of that there was famine in the land, corruption at court, and yet Edward had been able to delegate to his sons, unlike Henry II, and I have to wonder how things would have been different had he lived a little longer and/or his son, Edward, the Black Prince. I’m doing my best to learn about the Kings and Queens of England, and I have found that I usually learn better when I read stories as in well-written historical fiction. There was just too much in this book for me to take in, but I did learn more about Edward. I’m looking forward to moving forward to the reign of Richard II even though I know it doesn’t go well.

[Taylor K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to revisit now that I am older and know more of the period. It brings Edward III’s political achievements into sharper focus and also demonstrates how Mark Ormrod’s perception of those achievements altered between this first book and his later, magnum opus Yale biography of the king.

[Keith Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a marathon, not a sprint. Almost as long to read as Edward's reign! But absorbing still the same. It was written by a contemporary of my wife. Mark unfortunately died towards the end of 2020.

[Russell Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward III begins to emerge from history in this volume, though as with any novel of a person removed several centuries, it does get remarkably close to revealing the actual person who once sat on the throne of England, and imagined sitting on the thrones of Scotland and France.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something of a marathon but leaned a lot about an unfamiliar character and period of English history

[Neeuqdrazil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bit of a slog - it read like a dissertation. It was definitely comprehensive, but at points felt a bit TOO comprehensive, at least for me, a casual reader.

It is set up thematically - chapters dealing with the nobility, the clergy, the gentry, the commons, and the cities. While this made sense in terms of Ormrod's purpose, it also meant that the book jumped around temporally, often on the same page. As someone who isn't all that familiar with the period, I got lost, a lot.

[Richard Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good place to start if you want to learn a bit about the era; origin of the Hundred Years War, backup to Froissart, etc.