Name/Title
CE 1327 - 1377 Edward III - GroatDescription
1361-1369 Edward III (1327-1377) Groat ND VF Details (Rim Damage) NGC,
Edward III of England (1312–1377) reigned from 1327 to 1377, one of the longest reigns in medieval English history. The son of Edward II and Isabella of France, he came to the throne at age fourteen after his father was deposed. His early reign was dominated by the influence of his mother and her lover, Roger Mortimer, until Edward asserted his independence in 1330 by overthrowing them and ruling in his own right.
Edward III is best remembered for restoring royal authority after his father’s turbulent rule and for launching the Hundred Years’ War against France, claiming the French crown through his mother’s lineage. His victories at Crécy (1346) and his son the Black Prince’s triumph at Poitiers (1356) brought prestige and territory to England, though the war remained unresolved during his lifetime.
At home, Edward strengthened the role of Parliament, particularly the House of Commons, in approving taxation, laying foundations for later constitutional developments. His reign also saw the devastation of the Black Death (1347–1351), which killed perhaps a third of England’s population and reshaped its social and economic structures.
Edward’s later years were marked by declining health and political turmoil, as his ambitious wars drained the treasury and noble factions vied for power. He died in 1377, succeeded by his 10-year-old grandson, Richard II. Despite the troubles of his final years, Edward III is often regarded as one of England’s most successful medieval kings, embodying ideals of chivalry and establishing England as a formidable European power.Create Date
July 30, 2025Update Date
May 25, 2026
