EDWARD I AND MARGARET OF FRANCE

While still grieving after the death his first wife, Edward decided that he should have another wife. After looking around, he approached Philip III of France with a view to marrying his daughter, Blanche, as this would make peace with France. However, it seemed that Blanche was already married, and instead Philip offered him one of his other daughters, Margaret, who was eleven. Edward was not happy and waged war on France for five years. Eventually, he did marry Margaret when she was sixteen and he was sixty. This took place on 8 September 1299.

Not long after, Edward left for a campaign fighting the Scots. After a period of loneliness in London, Margaret joined him. The King was very pleased by this. As the King's children were nearly the same age as Margaret, she became very close to them. She bore Edward three children, the last of whom she named Eleanor after his first wife. She was widowed at the age of twenty-six.

Edward I.

Above left: Eleanor of Castile.

Above right: Edward I.

Right: Edward II attempted to control Scotland, like his father, but was soundly beaten at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. His wife had him murdered at Berkeley Castle, supposedly using a red-hot poker. He is buried in Gloucester Cathedral.

Left: Edward II's tomb at Gloucester Cathedral.

Opposite: Paintings were like present-day photographs... they were snapshots of current events. This view shows Isabella of France with Roger Mortimer, her lover, during their invasion of England in 1325, an event that would ultimately lead to Edward's death. He abdicated early in 1327 in favour of his son, who became Edward III.