Edward Caernarfon, the first Prince of Wales, was born April 25th, 1284. Edward was King of England from 1307 to 1327 when he was deposed by his wife, Queen Isabella, who had loyalties to her French lineage and aspirations of her own after becoming fed up with Edward's various shortcomings. King Edward I was irritated that his son wasn't exhibiting more acceptable behavior worthy of a future king and decided on a course of action: introducing and appointing Piers Gaveston as his son Edward II's squire. The idea backfired as the two young men became nearly inseparable until the father seized an opportunity to send the son away from court and Piers. The separation lasted only a few months before Piers was banished from England. This time the separation was ended when Edward I died and the son became King Edward II, welcoming back Piers. Edward was incredibly generous in giving lavish gifts to Piers and chose to make Piers regent and in doing so, snub far more experienced barons. The contention continued to grow with with Isabella and barons as Edward continued to dote on Piers. Matters deteriorated to such a degree that Piers was kidnapped by barons and decapitated. A few years after Piers' execution, Edward became involved with a courtier named Hugh Despenser, whose father had served Edward I. Isabella was simply not going to be humiliated a second time by her husband, and concocted a reason to visit her royal family back in France, where she took a lover and hatched a plan to seize England. Despenser was taken prisoner, had his genitals cut off and burnt in front of him before he was killed. Edward was simply deposed and essentially put under house arrest in Berkeley Castle. Two attempted rescue attempts in a short period convinced the Queen's lover that Edward was a threat and Edward was dead two weeks later. It was said that Edward was killed ‘with a hoote brooche [meat-roasting spit] putte thro the secret place posterialle’.
Read more about Edward II
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