In Episode 2 of Season 2 of The History of Modern Politics, Chris Spangle and Matt Wittlief trace the period from Edward I’s legal reforms and Parliament’s growing role through the height of Edward III’s power.
We start with a well-respected Lord Edward ascending to the throne after the long but embattled reign of his father, King Henry III. Despite the instability of Henry’s reign, it is a bit shocking how welcomed Edward was by the barons to take power. He was on crusade at the time, and we tease out the linkage between him and the popular video game series Assassin’s Creed in the cold open. The details of Edward I’s reign required knowledge that we covered in Episode 12 (“Things We Didn’t Tell You in Season One”) including deeper dives into Wales and Scotland. It was against these kingdoms where Edward flexed his powers though the reality deviates pretty significantly from the depictions in Braveheart and Robert the Bruce.
We then shift to the absolutely disastrous reign of Edward II, the first Prince of Wales. Generally rated as one of the worst English kings in history, Edward suffered military embarrassment and raised eyebrows (and ire) with his unique relationships with Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser. Parliament and the barons put tight reins on his reign; later, the barons revolted in civil war, led by the king’s cousin and other powerful lords. His wife, with the support of her brother, the king of France, and select barons, eventually led the effort to depose and execute the Edward.
The last part of the episode covers Edward III, who, in turn, deposed his mother’s regency and came to control the kingdom in his own right. Here we get the launch of the Hundred Years’ War over pride and succession challenges back in France. We end the episode with Edward at the height of his power; military victories against the French would result in the King of France imprisoned in London.
