EDWARD, THE 14..vet: PuiNcE (so named from the color of his armor) (1330-711). The eldest son of Edward HI. of England. lie was created Dike of Cornwall in his seventh year, and a year later. during the absence of Leis fat her. who was embarking on 11 against France, was appointed nominal guar dian of the kingdom. lie held this office again in 1310 and 1342, and was created Prince of Wales in 1313. Three years later he accompanied his father to France, and in the battle of Coley (q.v.) led the most gallant division of the army.
He also shared his father's glory in the victories followed. III 1355 he was given command of the chief army in the French War, landed at Bordeaux, and after several ;smaller successes, in 1356, the victory of Poitiers (q.v.), capturing the French King, John II., whom he carried captive to London. in 1357. In 1361, during the short peace following King John's ransom, Edward married his eousin Joanna, the 'fair maid of Kent.' whose third husband lie was, and being created Prince of Aquitaine and Gas cony in 1362. crossed over to ills nett' possession, which he ruled successfully and peacefully for a time. Entering into au entangling alliance with Peter the Cruel. the deposed King of Castile. he found himself burdened with the exitenses and losses of a profitless war, and for the excessive taxes laid upon his duchy was summoned to account by the French as his liege lord. To this summons Edward replied haughtily. will come, with our helmet on our bead and 60, 000 men in our company." This led to a rupture between France and England. The French
planned a double invasion of the English terri tory in France. The Duke of Anjou. command big one expedition. besieged Limoges. which had been ceded to the English by the Treaty of lIretigny and formed part of the Principality of Aquitaine. The city was surrendered by the treachery of its bishop. The Black Prince. en raged by this act, after a siege of a month, re captured the city by assault (1370), and is said to have put to the sword 3000 of its inhabitants. This outburst of cruelty is the chief blot on the fame of the Prince, and it is only partially ex plained by his disordered health, which itself was perhaps due to the irritation of seeing the English power waning in France, in spite of all his victories. Ile was compelled by the advice of his physicians to return in 1371 to England, where he lingered in continually failing health for five years. In these years he saw the loss of Aquitaine, but he did good. service to the country in opposing the corrupt and oppressive influences \Shia surrounded the doting Edward Ill., and by his help Parliament was able to pass acts in restraint of the dangerous ambition of John, Duke of Lancaster. He died, probably in June, .1376, and was buried in the Cathedral of Canterbury, where part of his armor still hangs above his tomb. His second son occupied the throne in the following years as Richard II. Consult: Longman, Life and Times of Edward III. (London, 1869) History of Ed ward 111. (London, 1900).