Edward III Trivia Quiz

Answer: John

John had been given the title Earl of Cornwall. He was a much less controversial choice than the previous holder of that title who was Edward II's favourite (some say lover), a Gascon knight called Piers Gaveston. One story suggests that Edward III was responsible for his own brother's death in Perth, but this is given little credence.

Answer: Philippa

Philippa was the daughter of William, Count of Hainault, who had provided Edward's mother (Isabel) with the means to invade England on her son's behalf. Joan was the name of Edward III's sister and of his daughter-in-law, the one who married "The Black Prince" and Elizabeth was the name of another daughter-in-law.

Answer: Edward, Lionel, John

Edward's eldest son (Edward) was nicknamed "The Black Prince". Lionel was his second son whose title was Duke of Clarence. Both these princes died before their father. John was Duke of Lancaster and father to the future Henry IV. Edmund was the Duke of York and Thomas was the Duke of Gloucester but they were the fourth and fifth surviving sons.

Answer: He laid claim to the throne of France

Some say Edward was provoked into making this claim by Robert of Artois. His claim lay through his mother but it was actually nearer in blood than that of Philip IV who was actually the first Valois king. Edward's eldest son in fact married Joan (the Fair Maid of Kent) ruining the chance of a political marriage with any foreign royalty.

Answer: Southampton

The French must also bear some responsibility for starting the so-called 100 Years War. They feared England's economic might and constantly tried to interrupt the wine trade with Gascony and also exports in wool and fish.

Answer: Sluys

With the sun and the wind behind them the English ships crashed into the great mass of the enemy fleet whose vessel where chained together. The English victory was won by the skill and courage of the English archers and the power of their men at arms. So many of the French were killed that it was said the fish would start speaking French.

Answer: King John of France

The forces under the Black Prince captured the French king. They treated him with courtesy but there was no doubt that this gave the English a tremendous bargaining chip in all the future negotiations with the enemy. A large ransom and a long captivity were two of the other consequences.

Answer: Spain

They either fought on behalf of Pedro the Cruel of Castile, or of his half-brother, Henry of Trastamara. The Black Prince won the famous victory at Najera but all the gains were frittered away by later bad policy and unreasonable demands for payment.

Answer: They were all professional soldiers who led men under Edward III

The reign of Edward III is said to mark the rise of the professional commander. Quite often he would serve alongside the man with the title and organise the troops on the march or the battlefield. Some of them became so famous and skilled that they were allowed virtually independent commands.

Answer: twenty-six

It is believed that Edward himself was interested in the cult of King Arthur, and at Winchester there is a still round table which was probably constructed very early in his reign. A round tower was built a Windsor to hold a similar sort of table. No one knows if the story of the Countess of Salisbury's garter is true.

Answer: Archbishop of Canterbury

The dispute was over the money that needed to be raised for the French wars. Stratford was appointed as chief councillor for England whilst Edward was overseas. Jealousy and petty rivalry led to a series of disputes.

Answer: wool

The product was wool and it was charged in units of sacks. Foreign merchants were allowed to come to specified towns to buy wool for export and English merchants were for a while excluded from the trade. The story of the wool "staple" was one of constant bickering and changes of rates and controls during Edward's reign.

Answer: Countess of Salisbury

It was said that he saw her in a border castle and was so excited and aroused that he could not eat his dinner. All his declarations of love were in vain and in desperation he then raped her.

Answer: Alice Perrars

Though he was known to have a fiery temper, he was not a man who bore grudges. As he moved into his final years factions formed around him using the influence of Alice Perrars to try and manipulate the affairs of the realm.

Answer: Richard II, Edward's grandson

Edward III's eldest son, Edward the Black Prince, had died before his father. It is the Black Prince's son - Richard who becomes Richard II of England. Later Richard II is deposed by Henry IV, his cousin and another of Edward III's grandsons.