Edward II – England’s Worst or Most Misunderstood King

Edward II, also called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir apparent to the throne following the death of his elder brother Alphonso.
He is best known for his humiliating defeat to Robert Bruce at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314, and for the alleged manner of his murder at Berkeley Castle in September 1327.
He was imprisoned, and according to the traditional account, died probably by violence. Some historians, however, suggest that his death was staged and that he probably survived until 1330.
His downfall was due in part to his reliance on his favorites, Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser, who were rumored to be his lovers.