Edward II was the first king of England to be deposed by his own subjects; and this course will examine what led to this unprecedented action. We will look at the notorious Piers Gaveston, Edward’s favourite and perhaps his lover, and the king’s cousin and implacable foe, the truculent Thomas, earl of Lancaster. We will examine the political system they operated within – and why it broke down so badly. In an age when a king ruled as well as reigning, what were the limits on his power, and how could his subjects oppose him? We will look at changing attitudes towards treason and rebellion, and how Edward’s opponents went about legally deposing a king. And we will discuss Edward’s fate, whether he was really murdered with a red-hot poker, and the intriguing possibility that he managed to escape to end his days in exile as a hermit.
The Reign of Edward II
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Courses starts: 19 Jan 2026
Week 1: Introduction: ‘Of King Edward, that was King Edward’s son’: Edward of Caernarvon and England.
The course will start with a look at Edward’s upbringing and background. The session will also provide an introductory overview of the kingdom which he inherited in 1307, along with a brief introduction to the historical sources for his reign.
Week 2: ‘The love of magnates is as a game of dice’: Piers Gaveston and Thomas of Lancaster, 1307-1312
Piers Gaveston is notorious as Edward’s favourite and lover. Why did he arouse such opposition in England that he was captured and killed by some of the leading magnates of Edward’s realm? This session will discuss how Edward’s own cousin Thomas, earl of Lancaster, came to be the leading figure in that opposition.
Week 3: ‘To order and establish the state of the king’s realm’: The Ordinances, 1311-12
In 1311, Edward’s opponents forced him to accept a programme of reforms known as the Ordinances – which he quickly repudiated. This session will examine the demands embodied in the Ordinances and what they reveal about Edward’s regime and its government.
Week 4: ‘How Robert the Bruce came again into Scotland’: Bannockburn and the Scottish Wars
The battle of Bannockburn in 1314 was perhaps the greatest defeat inflicted on the English since Hastings. This session will examine the background of the battle and the Anglo-Scottish wars, and the impact this catastrophic defeat had upon English politics.
Week 5: ‘The accursed Scots daily rob the people of their food’: Famine, War and Discord, 1315-18
After 1314, England was plagued by bad harvests, famine, continuing war with Scotland, and continuing discord between Edward and his cousin Thomas of Lancaster. The session will examine how Edward tried to deal with these problems.
Week 6: ‘How King Edward did all manner of things as Sir Hugh the Despenser would’: The Rise of the Despensers, 1319-21
This session will examine the rise of Edward’s new favourites, Hugh le Despenser and his like-named son, and how this led to the outbreak of civil war.
Week 7: ‘Alas, the shame and despite that the gentle order of knighthood had at that battle’: Civil War, 1321-2
In 1321, relations between the king and his opponents deteriorated to the point of war. The session will examine how and why Edward was able to defeat his opponents, and the terrible retribution exacted by Edward, accompanied by perhaps the largest redistribution of lands in England since 1066. It will also look at the changing attitudes towards treason and rebellion revealed by these events.
Week 8: ‘For the Lord King favoured him in this and in all other matters’: The Despenser Regime, 1322-6
Having defeated his opponents, Edward’s power was now unbridled. This session will examine what use he made of that power, and the overweening influence of the Despensers. How did Edward get from overwhelmingly defeating his opponents in 1322 to being overthrown just four years later?
Week 9: ‘How King Edward was put down’: Revolution and Deposition, 1326-7
Why was Edward II deposed? And how did his opponents go about legally deposing a king, an action then unprecedented in English history? The session will also examine Edward’s fate – and the stories that he survived to go into exile as a hermit.
Week 10: Conclusion: ‘Wise, charming and affable, but malevolent in deed’; Edward II and his reputation
The course will end with an assessment of the character of Edward and his rule – and why his reign was so troubled. It will also look at the changing historical reputation of a king who is perhaps now best remembered either as a gay icon, or as the victim of the infamous red-hot poker.
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Optional preparatory reading:
- Edward II: The Terrors of Kingship / Given-Wilson, C.
- King Edward II: His Life, His Reign and its Aftermath, 1284-1330 / Haines, R.M.
- Edward II / Phillips, S.
- Plantagenet England 1225-1360 / Prestwich, M.
Certification
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) Points
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. Please follow this link for more information on Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) points
Digital Certificate of Completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Please note students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £300.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Dr Andy King
Andy King completed his PhD at Durham University in 2002, and is currently a Lecturer in History, at Southampton. He edited Sir Thomas Gray: Scalacronica (1272–1363), and has published on warfare, the Anglo-Scottish Marches and on chronicles.
Course aims
- To develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the politics of Edward II's reign.
- To develop an understanding of how politics functioned in England during the reign of Edward II
- To develop an understanding of the nature and limits of kingship and government in late medieval England.
- To develop skills in the analysis of historical documents.
Teaching methods
Teaching will be based around a mix of informal lectures and class discussion based on short set readings from contemporary chronicles and documents (in translation). Emphasis will also be placed on developing the skills to analyse these texts.
Learning outcomes
- Students should have gained an understanding of the course and nature of politics and war in Edward's reign.
- Students should have developed an understanding of the nature of successful kingship in late-medieval England.
- Students should be able to analyse textural material and relate it to their understanding of the reign.
Assessment methods
Two options will be available to students and will be discussed in detail in the first class.
Students can choose Option A a combination of shorter exercises: written analyses of texts (short extracts from chronicles, or documents), and/or book reviews, to total 1,500 words.
Alternatively, they may chose Option B, a 1,500-word essay from a list of questions provided in the first class, or a topic of their own devising, agreed upon with the tutor.
They will also be able to submit a formative assignment of 500 words during the course.
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation will submit coursework.
Application
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Students who do not register for assessment and credit during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.
Level and demands
No prior knowledge of medieval history is required.
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.