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Radio 4
Radio 4 History
BBC History

This Sceptred Isle

Dynasties

55 BC - 1087

1087 - 1327

1327 - 1547

1547 - 1660

1660 - 1702

1702 - 1760

1760 - 1792

1792 - 1837

1837 - 1861

1861 - 1901

1901 - 1919

1920 - 1939

1940 - 1959

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1980 - 1999

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The Ghastly Execution
On Edward II's defeat at Bannockburn, Thomas of Lancaster became Steward of England. He was extremely inefficient and unpopular and was overthrown by a royalist party led by the Despensers. The Despensers were not a landowning family and set out to win land in the Welsh marches.

In 1321 the Welsh marcher lords and the Lancastrian party joined together and fought the King and the Despensers. The Marcher lords were defeated first and then the northern barons led by Lancaster were defeated at Boroughbridge in Yorkshire. Lancaster was beheaded by the King.

One of the Marcher lords, Roger Mortimer, escaped to France.

Meanwhile Charles IV of France seized Gascony, Isabella suggested she went to France to negotiate for Edward II. She became Mortimer's lover and the scheming began. She sent for her son, Prince Edward, to do homage for Gascony. Once he arrived safely she and Mortimer headed an invasion of England. The Despensers were hanged. The King was deposed and later died, almost certainly murdered, at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire.

Sir Hugh Despenser
HUGH DESPENSER (c. 1287-1326)

Known as the younger, his father was also called Hugh
A great favourite of Edward II after the death of Piers Gaveston
Married Eleanor the King's niece
Took over much land in the Welsh marches which led to an anti-Despenser coalition, he defeated this at Boroughbridge in 1322
Executed when Isabella and Mortimer invaded in 1326

did you know?
Thomas of Lancaster's wife, Alice Lacy, left Lancaster and took refuge with the Earl of York, thus starting the hostilities between those two great families.

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1306 Robert I, the Bruce, King of Scotland

1307 Edward I dies
Edward II becomes King

1314 English defeated at Bannockburn

1318 Edward II regains England and the Despensers rise to power

1322 Edward II defeats the Marcher lords and the Lancastrians
Thomas of Lancaster is executed

1326 Isabella and Mortimer invade England

1327 Edward II is deposed
Edward III becomes King
Isabella & Mortimer govern
Scots invade England

1328 Edward III recognizes Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland

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1306	Robert I, the Bruce, King of Scotland
1307	Edward I dies Edward II becomes King
1314	English defeated at Bannockburn
1318	Edward II regains England and the Despensers rise to power
1322	Edward II defeats the Marcher lords and the Lancastrians Thomas of Lancaster is executed
1326	Isabella and Mortimer invade England
1327	Edward II is deposed Edward III becomes King Isabella & Mortimer govern Scots invade England
1328	Edward III recognizes Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland