In the following, only a general overview of England’s history in the first half of the 14th century is given, as far as it seems necessary for the understanding of n Edward II.1 Edward I. In 1066, the Norman Guillaume le Conquérant or William the Conqueror won the Battle of…
Guy de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick (* c. 1272, † 12 August 1315) was a powerful nobleman, able soldier and confidant of Edward I. From the first moment he was a vehement opponent of Gaveston and supporter of the Ordinances. After Pembroke captured Gaveston in 1312, Warwick had him kidnapped…
Henry de Beaumont, Earl of Buchan (*about 1280, † 10 March 1340) already fought under Edward I in Scotland, where he also had extensive possessions, but which were lost as the Scottish independence movement progressed. He was a loyal supporter of Edward II in the struggle against the opposition of…
Henry Plantagenet, Earl of Leicester (* c. 1280, † 22 September 1345) was a son of Edmund Crouchback, brother of Edward I and Blanche d’Artois. The Earl of Lancaster was his elder brother. He supported the opposition of the nobility and was possibly involved in the assassination of Gaveston. During…
Hugh Despenser, Earl of Winchester (*1 March 1261, † 27 October 1326) had already made a name for himself under Edward I as a soldier and diplomat. In the struggle between Edward II and the noble opposition, he loyally stood by the king. He took part in the Battle of…
Hugh Despenser, Lord Despenser (* 1286; † 24 November 1326) probably knew Edward II since his childhood, because when he was still heir to the throne, he had belonged to his retinue. Economic motives had prompted Edward I to marry the young Despenser to his granddaughter Eleanore de Clare. This…
Isabeau (* c. 1295, † 22 August 1358) was the only surviving daughter of the French king Philippe IV and Jeanne de Navarre. Her year of birth is only assumed to be 1295. As early as 1303 at the Peace of Paris, her father and Edward I agreed on a…
John Maltravers ( * c. 1290, † 16 February 1364) was married in his first marriage to Millicent de Berkeley, a sister of Thomas Berkeley. He took part in the Battle of Bannockburn and fought as a Lancaster supporter against Edward II at Boroughbridge. From there he escaped and joined…
Jan van Beaumont also Jan van Blois or Jan van Henegouwen or John of Hainault (* 1288, † 11 March 1356) was a younger brother of Count Willem I of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut, who was married to Jeanne de Valois a cousin of Isabella and sister of the later…
There is likely no historical model for Levune in Marlowe’s Edward II. Levune is a French court envoy who first reports that the French king has occupied Normandy because Edward II has not taken the required oath of fealty. Later, Spencer sends him back to thwart Isabella’s plans at her…
