Edward IIs reign had seen military failures, disputes with France over Gascony and the outbreak of the Despenser Wars, a civil war between Edward II and disgruntled Barons. As a result, he lost the confidence of much of the nobility and was accused of many failings, including that of abandoning the realm, by the Archbishop Reynolds of Canterbury, amongst others.

21 January 1327: Abdication of King Edward II

Edward II was coerced into abdication by a deputation that represented the Three Estates: the church, the nobles, the commons. He did so on the understanding that his son Edward would become king.

The charges against Edward II are described in Historiae Anglicanae Scriptores Decem, summarised here:

1. First, because the king is incompetent to govern in person.
2. he has not been willing to listen to good counsel.
3. He has lost lands in Scotland, Ireland, and France.
4. He has destroyed the church, imprisoned nobles, and put some to a shameful death.
5. He has broken his oath to do justice to all.
6. He has shown himself incorrigible without hope of amendment[i].

The downfall of King Edward II was sealed by the actions of his own Queen. Isabella and Roger Mortimer had been chief among those opposed to the King. When Isabella was sent to negotiate with her brother, the King of France, in 1325, she used it as an opportunity to find support for an invasion of England.

That support came and the landing virtually unchallenged. With many of the nobles disaffected, an army headed by the Queen and Mortimer and little hope of rallying armed support, Edward II was left with little option but to abdicate.

The abdication took place at Kenilworth Castle. After this, Edward was taken into custody. His abdication was announced several days later in London, with his son, Edward III being proclaimed his successor. Edward II is said to have been killed in Berkeley Castle. An effigy for the late King can be found in Bristol Cathedral. His fate is disputed though.

[i] From Select Documents of English Constitutional History, Edited by George Burton Adams and H. Morse Stephens, The MacMillan Company; New York; 1904. pp. 99. Cited on [https://elfinspell.com/Articles1327.html]

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Edward II enthroned. MS Royal 20 A II, f.10.