LONDON-L Archives

Archiver > LONDON > 2001-10 > 1002066230


From: Michael Bruff <>
Subject: Re: [Lon] EDWARD III-Black Prince
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 00:43:50 +0100
References: <6179973.1002043914829.JavaMail.root@127.0.0.1>
In-Reply-To: <6179973.1002043914829.JavaMail.root@127.0.0.1>



>The Black Prince 1330-76 the eldest son of EDWARD III.

A great military commmander, certainly by 14thC standards, which is
somewhat akin to saying someone is taller than Mickey Rooney or
Ronnie Corbett. He was, unfortunately, also incredibly vain,
spendthrift and arrogant, and, in his later years, his suffering from
dropsy rendered him very short-tempered and brutal. Witness his
slaughter of the citizens of Limoges. His excesses were largely
responsible for French subjects of Edward III defecting to France.

*Not* a nice person. Although chroniclers of the time thought him the
bee's knees.

For an outstanding account of the Black Prince and the 14thC as a
whole look no further than 'A Distant Mirror' by the great historian
Barbara Tuchman. Not only a magnificent history, but a magnificent
book full stop. Donald Sutherland made it his choice on BBC Radio 4's
'Desert Island Discs' and I think I might follow suit, if ever I were
invited. I cannot recommend it too highly. Very learned, very
readable.

Mick

Tottenham
Middlesex


--

This thread: