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Isabella of France |
Isabella and Mortimer
In 1326 Isabella and Mortimer led a successful invasion of England and in 1327 Edward II abdicated in favour of his son who was crowned Edward III. Roger Mortimer governed until Edward III overthrew him in 1330.
In 1328 Edward III, on the advice of Mortimer and Isabella, relinquished Scotland to the Scots. He gave his sister, Joan, to David, son of Robert the Bruce of Scotland. Joan was aged seven, David five. This caused outrage.
Mortimer quarreled with the barons. He declared himself the Earl of March, the barons headed by Henry of Lancaster, said he had no right to do so and in 1328 Mortimer, taking Edward III, with him attacked the lands of Lancaster. The barons were in disorder and could not resist Mortimer.
In 1330 Mortimer executed the Duke of Kent, the late king's half brother, for treason. This proved to the barons how dangerous Mortimer was. They backed Edward III and when Parliament sat in Nottingham in 1330 their chance had come. They arrested and executed Mortimer and imprisoned Isabella.
ROGER MORTIMER (1287-1330)- First Earl of March
- Appointed Lieutenant of Ireland by Edward II
- Joined the coalition of Marcher lords against Hugh Despenser
- Captured but escaped to France
- Became Queen Isabella's lover and adviser
- Deposed and probably murdered Edward II in favour of his son Edward III, aged 14
- Became King in all but name confiscating the Despenser lands in the Marches
- In 1328 declared himself First Earl of March
- Defeated by Robert the Bruce in Scotland in 1328
- In 1330 he executed the Earl of Kent this led to the 17-year-old Edward III arresting him and executing him
Edward II's murderers inserted red hot rods into his bowels which killed him but left no mark on his body.
TIMETABLE FOR THE INVASION OF ENGLAND 1326
- 23rd September 1326
- Isabella, Mortimer and their mercenaries sail for England
- 24th September 1326
- Land at Orwell in Suffolk, supported by the king's brother, Edmund of Kent and the earl of Lancaster
- 29th September 1326
- Edward offers a reward for Mortimer's head
- 15th October 1326
- People of London start massacring the King's supporters, including the Bishop of Exeter who is beheaded by a man with a butcher's knife
- 27th October 1326
- Despenser the Elder is tried and sentenced to hang
- 24th November 1326
- Hugh the Younger is executed and his head taken and displayed on London Bridge
- 25th January 1327
- Edward the II's abdication becomes official. His 14-year-old son is crowned King. Mortimer and Isabella have seized power
 
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| 1306 | Robert I, the Bruce, king of Scotland
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| 1307 | Edward I dies
Edward II becomes king
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| 1314 | English defeated at Bannockburn
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| 1318 | Edward II regains England and the Despensers rise to power
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| 1322 | Edward II defeats the Marcher lords and the Lancastrians
Thomas of Lancaster is executed
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| 1326 | Isabella and Mortimer invade England
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| 1327 | Edward II is deposed
Edward III becomes king
Isabella & Mortimer govern
Scots invade England
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| 1328 | Edward III recognizes Robert the Bruce as king of Scotland
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| 1330 | Mortimer arrested and executed
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