British King "Bullet Book," Edward II, 1307 - 1327
BillJones
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Edward II Penny, S-1459
• Edward II was weak king who allowed his personal relationships to interfere with his ability to act as an effective ruler.
• Although no one can be sure because he ruled 700 years ago, evidence points to the strong possibility that Edward II was gay. Edward was drawn to boating, swimming, and arts and crafts instead of the "more manly pursuits," jousting and hunting.
• Edward’s favorite was Piers Gaveston. King Edward I had had Gaveston banished from the kingdom, but he returned once Edward II took power.
• For his coronation, Edward dressed Gaveston in purple robes and peals and which allowed Gaveston to upstage his wife and queen, Isabella of France. It was a great source of embarrassment for the queen.
• Gaveston was an accomplished jouster. He frequently defeated the nobles in these contests and made the mistake of taunting them after he beat them.
• Edward awarded choice tracts of land to Gaveston which had been traditionally given to more important people. Ultimately the nobles rebelled. One of them beheaded Gaveston. Edward was devastated.
• Edward found a new favorite, Hugh Despenser. Edward lavished gifts on the Despenser family while the rest of the country suffered through a famine.
• The nobles once more rebelled. In a symbolic execution, Despenser was castrated, and his parts were thrown into a fire while he watched.
• Edward II was deposed by his wife, Isabella of France and her lover, Mortimer, Earl of March. Isabella and Mortimer took control of the country because the future king, Edward III was too young to take the crown on his own.
• The Edward II was imprisoned. In another symbolic execution Edward II was slain by having a hot skewer pushed up his rectum.
Comments
Edward II sure took a beating in "Braveheart" that fictionalized adaptation of history.
His portrait is actually starting to look like a real person.
I was amazed in reading Ian Mortimer's biography of Edward III that he believed that Edward II was not murdered, and lived out his days on the continent. It was hard for me to believe, but he's the historian, not me.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fieschi_Letter
My current "Box of 20"
From what I have read, people heard screams from the place he was held. One reason given for the alleged method of his execution was that no one could detect the cause of his death unless they could examine the body in detail. I have no doubt that Edward II was executed. Most every deposed British king was killed when he didn't flee the country. You will see that my future chapters.