Edward The Black Prince

Prince Edward, commonly referred to as the Black Prince, was the eldest son of English King Edward III, and one of the most successful commanders of the Hundred Years War. He is largely known in history as the Black Prince because of the black color of his armor, however there is no record of Edward being called “The Black Prince” during his lifetime. Edward was actually referred to as Edward of Woodstock. The Black Prince was an exceptional military leader and very popular during his life.

Edward was born in June of 1330 and died in June of 1376. He was the father of King Richard II of England, and since the Black Prince died before his father and therefore never became king, Edward’s son Richard II became king after the death of his grandfather.

Part of what makes the story of the Black Prince so unique in history is how much authority Edward was given at such a young age, and how capable Edward proved though young, in handling it. While still barely a teenager, Prince Edward was given command of entire armies, and not only was he able to hold his own, the Black Prince left a legacy which still awes historians today.

Edward was created Earl of Chester in 1333 (at three years old), Duke of Cornwall in 1337 (at seven years old), and then Prince of Wales in 1343 (at thirteen years old). In July of 1346, the Black Prince (at sixteen) sailed with his father to France and barely a month later, commanded the English right flank in the battle of Crecy, one of the most famous battles of the Medieval era.

The English were vastly outnumbered by the French. The English troops were somewhere in the vicinity of 20,000 while the French had between 35 and 60 thousand men. Despite the numerical superiority, the French were soundly defeated by the English.

The Black Prince fought well in the battle, and was able to successfully guide the soldiers under his command. After participating in the victory at Crecy, Edward continued to serve with distinction in France. Perhaps Edward’s greatest military achievement took place at the battle of Poitiers, in which Edward, similarly to the battle of Crecy, managed to eliminate a vastly superior force of French knights, utilizing bravery and the famed English longbow men.

At Crecy, Poitiers, and all throughout his service in the Hundred Years War, the Black Prince exhibited himself to be both a courageous and valiant soldier and commander. His forces were victorious time and again. Though a phenomenal general, the Black Prince was not a great statesman, and unfortunately for him, ended up returning to England in 1370 a ruined man (financially) and having lost a great majority of his lands and possession. Edward died in 1376 after a long illness, never to hold the throne of England, but assured a place in history as one of England’s most famous generals.