Dear Readers Recently I sent you chapter one and two of my ”book” article ”Thomas of Lancaster, rebel cousin of king Edward II, from warlord to Saint”It is a travel to 14th century history of England and narrates the turbulent lifeof Earl Thomas of Lancaster, cousin of king Edward IIBecause it is extended, I do you the favour of sending my major article to you in chapters So recently the chapters one and two https://www.astridessed.nl/thomas-of-lancaster-rebel-cousin-of-king-edward-ii-from-warlord-to-saint-chapter-one/
Today, chapter threeENJOY and travel with me to 14 century England……
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER THREE THOMAS OF LANCASTER/CONFLICT WITH HIS COUSIN, KING EDWARD II From day one?
No. Because of the bitter battle between King Edward II and his cousin, Thomas of Lancaster, there are people, who think, that they were enemies from the very beginning. However, that’s not the case.
Originally, Thomas was loyal to Edward and in good terms with him, also before his accession of King. For example: In 1305, Thomas was forced to apologise to Edward for being unable to come and attend him, as he was ill. Edward wrote back to say that he hoped to visit Thomas soon, “to see and to comfort you.” [76]
At Edward’s Edward’s coronation, on 25 february 1308, Thomas carried Curtana, the sword of St Edward the Confessor [one of the last Anglo Saxon Kings before William the Conqueror] [77] And when you read the rest of the story, it will come as a surprise to you, that according to some sources,Thomas was not after Kings’ favourite Piers Gaveston [78] from day one, but was initially rather on good terms with him. [79] He remained loyal to Edward, when in the spring of 1308, the majority of the barons were pressing for Piers Gaveston’s exile. [80]
However it seems, that in november 1308, Thomas suddenly left the Court, from reasons unknown. [81]
Dear Readers Recently I sent you chapter one of my ”book” article ”Thomas of Lancaster, rebel cousin of king Edward II, from warlord to Saint”It is a travel to 14th century history of England and narrates the turbulent lifeof Earl Thomas of Lancaster, who was one of the mightiest man of his Time, ,nobleman, warlord and cousin of king Edward II.And the most fascinating question:How does a warlord become a Saint?Read further, then you’ll get the answer….. Because it is extended, I do you the favour of sending my major article to you in chapters Recently chapter one https://www.astridessed.nl/thomas-of-lancaster-rebel-cousin-of-king-edward-ii-from-warlord-to-saint-chapter-one/
Today, chapter twoENJOY and travel with me to 14 century England……
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER TWO BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER/SERVICE UNDER HIS UNCLE KING EDWARD I
In the beginning there seemed to be no trouble in paradise. Grandson of King Henry III, nephew of King Edward I, who probably arranged for him the splendid marriage with Alice de Lacy [70], daughter of Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln [71] [by the death of his father in law, Henry de Lacy, Thomas was to inherit the Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury, added to the Earldoms he inherited from his father, Edmund Crouchback [72] namely Lancaster, Leicester and Derby, which made him one of the richest nobles in the land] [73], what stood in the way of a splendid career?
And it all seemed going just fine:
On reaching On reaching full age he became hereditary Sheriff of Lancashire, but spent most of the next ten years fighting for Edward I in Scotland, leaving the shrievalty in the care of deputies.[74] He served his uncle King Edward I, by participating in the battle of Falkirk in 1298. [75]
INTRODUCTION:Readers, This is a fascinating story about Thomas of Lancaster and the persons and events that played an important part in his life in a very turbulent time. But like all fascinating stories, it is not told in two minutes. It is a real longread.
To understand the political situation in the early fourteenth century, especially chapter one, four and five are important. Chapters six describes the outbreak of the war between Thomas and his cousin the King, the chapters seven and eight the dramatic end. Chapters nine and ten, what happened thereafter.
But to make it easily readable for my readers, who enjoy history like me, I’ll send itto you in different chapters, so for you it is more easy to read and newreaders can wonder, how the story goes on SO HERE COMES FIRSTCHAPTER ONEThe next chapters you’ll see in the next days ENJOY! BEFORE CHAPTER ONE ”When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ You_Win_or_You_Die How many warlords were proclaimed ”holy” after their death and were venerated as Saints? Not many, I presume….. Read further and experience the excitement of a turbulent time, with violent, lawless men, thirsty for power.Come with me…..Today I, your travel companion through the Middle Ages, introduce to you an extroardinary man, who was a warlord, England’s de facto ruler for certainly four years, fighting his cousin King Edward II for nearly ten years.His name was Thomas, the second Earl of Lancaster [1]. No, NOT to be confused with his younger brother Henry, third Earl of Lancaster, [2] one of the ancestors of the House of Lancaster [3], that branch of the Plantagenet Royal House, which fought a battle to the death with another Plantagenet branch, the House of York [4] in the Wars of the Roses. [5] This was Thomas, second Earl of Lancaster, lesser known, but in his time, a man of power and absolutely not insignificant. That’s the reason I write about him, because I feel people should know more about him.Besides:He intrigues me Because as I said, not only he was the de facto ruler in England for certainly four years, fighting his cousin, King Edward II for many years and making his own laws.
But again:
How many warlords end up ”holy”, as a Saint?
Follow me, through the chapters of history, containing power,treason, ambition, passion deceit, cruelty, but also….chivalry…. CHAPTER ONE
A
IN GENERAL/ FAMILY TIES/HISTORICAL CONFLICTS BETWEEN KINGS AND BARONS/PERSONAL LIFE/POWER AND WEALTH
FAMILY TIES (1)
Thomas was the first cousin of King Edward II [King from 1307-1327] [6], since Thomas’ father, Edmund Crouchback, the first Earl of Lancaster [7], was the younger brother of King Edward I [8], ,father of Edward II. But he also was the uncle of Queen Isabella of France [9] [wife of Edward II and daughter of the French King, Philip IV, the Fair, the Hammer of the Templars] [10], since he was the half-brother of her mother, Joan I of Navarre [wife of King Philip IV] [11]
Yes my readers, so complicated were the family relations of the English nobility, not only because of internarriage with each other, but also with French nobility [also Spanish, Flemish and other, but often, French]
To give another example to ”tease” you a little and showing the complexity of noble family relations:
Edward II had two halfbrothers, Thomas, Earl of Norfolk [12] and Edmund, Earl of Kent [13], since his father Edward I remarried after the death of his first wife, Edward II’s mother, Eleanor of Castile. [14]
But the wife he remarried, was Margaret of France. [15] the sister of the French King, Philip IV [the Fair] [16], father of Isabella, future wife of Edward II [on the moment Edward I married the lady, Isabella was not yet married to Edward II]
SO: The Earls of Norfolk and Kent [halfbrothers of Edward II] were, of course, the brothers in law of Queen Isabella, but also her first cousins, since their mother, Queen Margaret of France [17], was also the sister of Isabella’s father, King Philip IV, the Fair. [18]
No wonder Papal Dispensation was often needed for noble marriages! [19]
B
CONFLICT SEEN IN A BROADER LIGHT/ABOUT CENTRALIZATION AND DECENTRALIZATION
Let’s go to Thomas’ interesting, but turbulent life, in a turbulent time, which led to the disaster of many, including the King. [20]
As shows the story, Thomas of Lancaster had a major conflict with the King, was four years long the uncrowned King and two times leader of oppositional barons against King’s power, leading two rebellions against the King. [21]
Now some sources called Thomas lawless, violent and powerseeking. [22] He may have been all that [I am not going to deny that, on the contrary], but it is shortsighted to see the conflict only from that personal point of view.
It’s more complicated:
Because this was not only a conflict between two powerful men, cousins, one the King and the other close to the throne. No: Moreover this conflict revealed the eternal struggle between centralization and decentralization. Between a King and his feudal lords about who should control the country.
When the King was a ”strong leader”, like Edward I [23], he held the nobles in order, when the authority was weaker, the nobles gained power. The causes of a weak authority may have differed, but fact was, that nobility, of course, took advantage of weak leadership.
C
EARLIER CONFLICTS BETWEEN KINGS AND THEIR BARONS [24]
KING JOHN [LACKLAND] AND HIS BARONS
As I wrote, apart from the specific circumstances [see below], the fight between Edward II and his cousin, Thomas of Lancaster has to be viewed in a broader light: The struggle between centralization [the Kings absolute power, ”divine majesty”] [25] and decentralization [increasing inluence of his feudal lords, the nobility].
Edward II was not the first King, who had serious conflicts with his barons
As well as his greatgrandfather John Lackland [John, King of England], [26] as his grandfather, King Henry III [27], clashed with their barons:
Because the times changed:
Were John Lackland’s father, King Henry II [28], as his brother, Richard I of England [The Lion Heart] [29], kings, who ruled on the basis, that the King was ”above the law” [divine majesty”] , in the time of John Lackland, there were contrary opinions expressed about the nature of kingship, and many contemporary writers believed that monarchs should rule in accordance with the custom and the law, and take counsel of the leading members of the realm. [30]
[31] Now John Lackland was, as a person, hard to deal with and increasing troubles were ahead:
He had a serious conflict with Pope Innocentius III [32], which resulted in an interdict of England [33] and John’s excommunication [34] King John was reported nearly to have converted to Islam in order to get support from Caliph Nasir, asking for help…..[35]
He clashed [almost from the beginning of his reign] with his barons, wanting to hold on
his ”rights” and claimed an “almost imperial status” for himself as ruler. [36]
This resulted in a number of wars with the barons, leading to the Magna Charta in 1315, enlarging the power of the barons. [37]
KING HENRY III AND HIS BARONS/SIMON DE MONTFORT
During the reign of King Henry III [38], son of John Lackland and grandfather of Edward II, at first peace seemed to be restored with the barons. [39]
But…..nothing lasts forever!
Henry faced a true crisis with the barons, who rose against him under the leadership of Henry’s brother in law, Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester [40], who had [seen in the light of that time], radical reform ideas. [41] He was the de facto ruler of England for less than a year. [42] and is known to have established a Parliament, with not only the barons and the knights of the shires [43], but also burgesses [44] of the major towns. [45] This parliament is sometimes referred to as the first English parliament and Montfort himself is often termed the founder of the Commons.[46]
At the end, he died in the battle of Evesham in 1265, beaten by the troops of prince Edward [eldest son of Henry III], the latter King Edward I [47]
In sofar there is a similarity with Thomas of Lancaster, who also ruled England [de facto] and seemed to have been influenced by Simon de Montfort’s ideas. [48]
That being said: Yet I think, that Thomas, far more than Simon de Montfort, had a personal power motive to wage war on his cousin Edward II.
Besides I don’t think, that Thomas of Lancaster was interested in more reforms than greater power for the barons.
D
THOMAS OF LANCASTER, DESCENT AND FAMILY TIES [EXTENDED] (2)
Thomas of Lancaster [c 1278-1322], who became the great adversary of his cousin King Edward II, was the eldest son of Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster [49], who was the second son of King Henry III [50], and brother of King Edward I. [51] Thomas’ younger brother was Henry, [later the 3rd Earl of Lancaster] [52], ancestor of the House of Lancaster. [53]
SO: He was the cousin of King Edward II, since his father [Edmund Crouchback] was the brother of Edward II’s father, King Edward I.
Thomas’ mother was Blanche of Artois [54], daughter of Count Robert I of Artois [55], who was the son of the French King Louis VIII [56] and the brother of King Louis IX [also called ”Saint Louis”] [57] Which made Blanche the niece of King Louis [IX] ”Saint Louis”
SO: Thomas of Lancaster descended from both English and French royal Houses, being the grandson of King Henry III and the greatgrandson of the French King Louis VIII.
A good Medieval curriculum vitae!
But there was more to the story:
When his mother, Blanche of Artois, married his father, Edmund Crouchback, she was a Dowager Queen, having been married with King Henry I of Navarre. [58] From that marriage, a daughter was born, Joan I of Navarre. [59]
And this Joan I of Navarre was the mother of Isabella of France, the wife of King Edward II.
Thomas was, therefore, the cousin of King Edward II, and the uncle of Queen Isabella of France!
E THOMAS OF LANCASTER/PERSONAL LIFE
Thomas of Lancaster was married with Alice de Lacy [60], daughter and heiress of Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln [61]. Jure uxoris [inheritance by the right of a wife] [62] Thomas had inherited in 1311 the lands of his father in law, for which he paid homage to King Edward II [quite a story! See below] [63], which made him rich and powerful, in combination with the lands he had inherited from his father. [64] The marriage is assumed to be unhappy [65] and they had no children together. Although, Thomas fathered, llegitimately, two sons with another woman. [66]
Alice was abducted in 1317 by Richard de St Martin, a knight in the service of John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey. [67] This incident caused a feud between Lancaster and Surrey; Lancaster divorced his wife and seized two of Surrey’s castles in retaliation. King Edward then intervened, and the two Earls came to an uneasy truce.[68]
F
POWER AND WEALTH
Because of his royal position and the inherited lands of his father and father in law, Thomas was one of the richest and most powerful men in England. His annual income was a huge eleven thousand pounds. [69]
Of course it was easy for a that powerful man to raise an army, when the time was ripe…..
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor The Treaty of Leake/700 years anniversary of the Fake reconciliation of two royal enemies/Edward II and his cousin, Thomas of Lancaster
THOMAS OF LANCASTER, REBEL COUSIN OF KING EDWARD II
/FROM WARLORD TO SAINT
INTRODUCTION:
Readers,
This is a fascinating story about
Thomas of Lancaster and the persons
and events that played an important part in his
life in a very turbulent time.
But like
all fascinating stories, it is not told
in two minutes. It is a real longread.
My advice to my you:
READ IT LIKE A BOOK!
Don’t read all chapters at one time,
because you will be overwhelmed, unless
you are totally fascinated.
Or when you are pressed with time, with time, read the Epilogue,
which gives my final opinion about Thomas of Lancaster and a
summary of this fascinating story….
To understand the political situation
in the early fourteenth century, especially
chapter one, four and five are important.
Chapters six describes the outbreak of the
war between Thomas and his cousin
the King, the chapters seven and eight the
dramatic end.
Chapters nine and ten, what happened
thereafter.
And I end with the Epilogue, giving my final opinion
about the life and activitities of Thomas of Lancaster.
Read all the Chapters with care and attention and you
will enter the Medieval world…..
THOMAS, 2ND EARL OF LANCASTER, REBEL COUSIN OF KING EDWARD II
/FROM WARLORD TO SAINT
INTRODUCTION:
Readers,
This is a fascinating story about
Thomas of Lancaster and the persons
and events that played an important part in his
life in a very turbulent time.
But like
all fascinating stories, it is not told
in two minutes. It is a real longread.
My advice to my you:
READ IT LIKE A BOOK!
Don’t read all chapters at one time,
because you will be overwhelmed, unless
you are totally fascinated.
Or when you are pressed with time, with time, read the Epilogue,
which gives my final opinion about Thomas of Lancaster and a
summary of this fascinating story….
To understand the political situation
in the early fourteenth century, especially
chapter one, four and five are important.
Chapters six describes the outbreak of the
war between Thomas and his cousin
the King, the chapters seven and eight the
dramatic end.
Chapters nine and ten, what happened
thereafter.
And I end with the Epilogue, giving my final opinion
about the life and activitities of Thomas of Lancaster.
Read all the Chapters with care and attention and you
will enter the Medieval world…..
King Edward II met Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster, at Leake and together they “signed” the Treaty
