It’s interesting to know Edward the Black Prince (1330 — 1376)

Although Edward never became king —he died before his father, Edward III — he is remembered as a great medieval military hero, with notable victories against the French in the Hundred Years War.

Edward was born on 15 June, 1330 at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, the eldest son of Edward III. He was created prince of Wales in 1343. He showed military brilliance at an early age, playing a key role in the defeat of the French army at the Battle of Crecy when he was only 16. In 1355, he was appointed his father's lieutenant in Gascony and the following year led another significant victory against the French at Poitiers, taking the French king prisoner.

In 1362, Edward married his cousin Joan of Kent and was created prince of Aquitaine and Gascony by his father. Edward and his wife went to live in his new French domains. In 1367, Edward led an expedition to Spain, to restore the deposed King Pedro of Castile, and proved himself again with victory at the Battle of Najera in northern Castile. Edward returned to Aquitaine, where he made himself unpopular with the nobility by levying taxes to pay for his Spanish expedition. They rose in revolt against him and in 1370 Edward besieged the city of Limoges. When it fell 3,000 of its inhabitants were massacred. A year later, Edward returned to England.

Edward died aged 45 on June 8, 1376, probably from an illness contracted in Spain, and was buried in great splendour in Canterbury Cathedral. His young son Richard succeeded his grandfather Edward III a year later.

Although now Edward is almost always called the "Black Prince", there is no record of this name being used during his lifetime. He was instead known as Edward of Woodstock, after his place of birth. The name "Black Prince" is first found in writing in Richard Grafton's Chronicle of England. Its origin is uncertain; according to tradition, it derived from an ornate black cuirass (piece of body armor) presented to the young prince by Edward III at the battle of Crécy. The French called him 'Le Noir' during his lifetime. It is possible that the name was first coined by French chroniclers in reference to the ruinous military defeats he had inflicted on France or his cruelty in these.

Chapter IV

THE TUDORS

Vocabulary focus

glory n – слава; успех; glorious adj – славный; блистательный

break away from v – отделиться от чего-л.

(the Court of) Star Chamber – Звездная Палата (судебная коллегия, состоявшая из членов палаты лордов, обладала практически неограниченной судебной властью)

stand up to v – перечить, прекословить

infancy n – раннее детство, младенчество, малолетство

Act of Supremacy – Акт о супрематии (закон о главенстве английского короля над церковью)

dissolution n – роспуск, закрытие; dissolve v – прекращать деятельность, распускать

execute v – казнить

benefit from v – извлекать пользу, выгоду из чего-л.

pardon n – (истор., церк.) индульгенция

unbending adj – непоколебимый, непреклонный, несгибаемый

inferior to adj – стоящий ниже (по положению, чину, развитию, и т. п.) относительно кого-л.

lifetime n – продолжительность жизни; целая жизнь

parish n – (церк.) приход

parson / vicar n – приходский священник

plot n – интрига, заговор, козни; plot v – составлять заговор, плести интриги

adventurer n – авантюрист; искатель приключений

Spanish Armada (Invincible Armada) – "Непобедимая армада" (испанский военный флот)

chartered company – компания, существующая на основе королевской грамоты или специального акта парламента

tempt v – соблазнять, прельщать, притягивать

far-reaching adj – далеко идущий; влекущий серьезные последствия; имеющий большие перспективы

run v – руководить, управлять