Edward the Black Prince

Edward the Black Prince (1330-76), Prince of England, b. Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

Edward of Woodstock was the eldest son of King Edward III.

He fought in the Battle of Crecy in France at the age of sixteen. Ten years later he himself defeated the French in the Battle of Poitiers and captured the French king.

He fought in further wars before he died at the age of forty-five.

Edward of Woodstock was famous for his bravery, his skill as a soldier and his chivalry. Some think he was later known as the Black Prince because at home he was also known for his brutish behavior, and in France he was known for being particularly malicious when defeating his enemies.

Many stories of his deeds are told in a book written in the Middle Ages by a Frenchman named Jean Froissart.

You can read this book as I, John Froissart by Grant Uden