EDWARD II, king of ENGLAND. — Eldest son of EDWARD I, born at Carnarvon on 25 April 1284, died at Berkeley Castle (Gloucestershire) on 21 September 1327. In 1301 he was created prince of Wales, a title henceforth customary for the heirs to the English throne; in July 1307 he succeeded his father. Of light and indolent character, he ruled with extreme weakness. Under his reign Scotland, led by Robert the Bruce, secured its freedom (battle of Bannockburn, 24 June 1314). Queen Isabella, with the aid of her brother Charles IV of France, succeeded in stirring up a spiritual revolt against the king as the most
revolt, after which King EDWARD II was forced to abdicate on 24 January 1327, and was assassinated a few months later.
BIBL.: C. Davis, The baron, opposition to Edward II, Cambridge 1919; T. F. Tout, The place of the reign of Edward II in English history, 2nd ed., Manchester 1937; K. Fawtier, L'Europe occidentale de 1270 à 1350, part 1: 1270-1350, Paris 1940, pp. 337-45, 439-52.