| Notes |
Edward II is known for being a spendthrift, a poor military leader
, a bad ruler. But he's probably best known for being gay. In 1308, P
iers Gaveston became regent of England. This appointment annoyed the b
arons, and Gaveston was exiled. He later returned to England was behea
ded by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. Lancaster was forgiven for this, bu
t 1321, he once again rebelled against the king's special favourites
. The Despensers, Hugh the Elder and Hugh the son, were cruel, greed
y and got loads of cash from the king and the English people. Lancaste
and the barons dismissed the Despensers, but they were restored to p
ower when Edward II's forces defeated Thomas of Lancaster in 1322. Th
e earl's supporters fled to the forest and feasted on the king's deer
. Edward II was a keen hunter, and hunted in Sherwood. He was als
o a constant traveller, visiting over 4,000 places in England -- Notti
gham among them. For these reasons, Edward II has been pegged as th
e Edward of the early Robin Hood ballad. But as the 1320's candidate f
or a real Robin Hood has fallen out of favour, so has this choice fo
the Edward of the ballad. The Despensers finally met a bad end. I
1326, Edward's wife Isabella (the She-Wolf of France) and her love
Roger Mortimer invaded England. The Despensers were tortured and kil
led in public. Edward was arrested, thrown in prison, surrendered th
e throne and was likely murdered in 1327. Apparently it was Adam Orlet
on, the Bishop of Hereford, who convinced Edward to give up his reign
. One source states Orleton might have ordered Edward II's death. Sou
ce: Wright, Allen W., The Search For A Real Robin Hood; http:/
/www.boldoutlaw.com/realrob/, accessed 29 May 2009
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1284 - 1327 (43 years)
