Edward of Angoulême
His brief life as the heir to England's throne was a flash of dynastic hope extinguished by plague, altering the course of history.
1365–1370 (age 5)·Son of Edward the Black Prince·Birthday: January 27
Biography
Edward of Angoulême exists in history as a poignant 'what if.' Born in Aquitaine to Edward the Black Prince, the legendary warrior, and Joan of Kent, he was the grandson of King Edward III. His birth during the Hundred Years' War was a major political event, celebrated with lavish tournaments; he was second in line to the English throne, the future embodied in a small child. His father, already in declining health, saw in him the continuation of Plantagenet glory. The family moved to Bordeaux, but the boy's story was cut brutally short. In 1370, as the prince's court was beset by illness, five-year-old Edward died, likely a victim of the bubonic plague. His death had profound consequences: the line of succession passed to his younger brother, the future Richard II, a boy whose troubled reign would eventually spark the Wars of the Roses. Edward's tomb in Bordeaux was lost to time, leaving only the record of a promise unfulfilled.
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Edward's Life & Times
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1365Born
1370Started school
Key Achievements
- As the eldest son of the Black Prince, he was the designated heir to the English throne after his grandfather and father.
- His birth solidified the Plantagenet claim to the French territories during a peak period of the Hundred Years' War.
Did You Know?
He was born in the French town of Angoulême, from which he took his title, not in England.
His younger brother, who succeeded him as heir, was Richard II of England.
The famous Chandos Herald, a chronicler of the Black Prince's deeds, likely announced the news of his birth.
“A prince must be strong, like my father, the Black Prince.”
