Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales and eldest son of Edward III

b. 1330; d. 1376

He was born at Woodstock, made Earl of Chester, 1333, Duke of Cornwall, 1337, and created Prince of Wales, 1343. His military career began with the French campaign of 1346, and he distinguished himself at Crècy and at the siege of Calais. He was one of the original knights of the Garter and was present at the naval battle with the Spaniards off Winchelsea in 1350. In 1355, as lieutenant for his father in Gascony, he reconquered much territory, and made many marauding expeditions, and in 1356 won the victory of Poitiers, showing himself a master of tactics, and returning in triumph to London with King John of France his prisoner.

He took part in the expedition to France in 1359 which ended in the Peace of Calais, 1360. In 1361 he married Joan, Countess of Kent, his cousin, and in 1362 was made Duke of Aquitaine, where he ruled extravagantly, cruelly, and ineffectively, as a vassal sovereign. In 1367 he lent his aid to Pedro the Cruel, deposed king of Castile, led his army into Spain, and defeated the usurper Henry of Trastamare and Bertrand du Guesclin at Najera. This expedition ruined him in health and resources, and his vassal barons in Aquitaine rose in rebellion against him. His dominions shrank, and after the cruel and indiscriminate sack of Limoges in 1370, he returned to England, resigning his dukedom in 1372. He was buried in Canterbury Cathedral in the great tomb with his arms above it. His name of 'Black Prince' cannot be traced earlier than the 16th century; tradition makes it due to his black armour. His contemporary reputation for chivalry cannot be sustained after c. 1360 but he had great qualities as a military leader.

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