Who was the legendary Black Prince of England, and why was he both loved and feared?

When he was born on 15 June 1330 at Woodstock Palace, Edward entered a world of dynastic power and feudal obligations.

As heir to the English throne, his early years were closely guided by his mother, Queen Philippa of Hainault, and influenced by his father’s court.

From an early age, he was surrounded by leading noble families, experienced knights, and the administrators of the Plantagenet monarchy.

By the age of seven, Edward held the title of Earl of Chester. Before his teens, he had been granted the further titles of Duke of Cornwall and Prince of Wales. 

Education for a medieval prince focused on the skills expected of a ruler. Edward learned Latin, French, and English, but greater importance was placed on military training and the practice of chivalry.

He mastered horsemanship, swordplay, hunting, and courtly etiquette. As England entered into open warfare with France in 1337, his path toward military command became clearer.

At just sixteen years old, Edward earned his reputation at the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

He led one of the main divisions of the English army alongside experienced commanders.

The English longbowmen devastated the French cavalry, and Edward's section withstood repeated assaults.

During the height of the fighting, reports claimed that his life was at risk, but Edward III refused to send reinforcements, stating that he wanted his son to “win his spurs.”

After the battle, Edward’s bravery became the subject of song and story. Crécy became the foundation of his fame, both at home and in enemy lands. 

Further victories came in 1356 at the Battle of Poitiers. There, Edward defeated a much larger French army and captured the French king, John II, by commanding a smaller English force.

This triumph caused a political crisis in France and strengthened England’s negotiating power.

Edward's use of terrain, feigned retreats, and the disciplined coordination of infantry and archers demonstrated the skill of a military leader who had matured at an unusually young age.

These victories made him a hero to the English nobility and a living nightmare to the French peasantry and aristocracy alike. 

Within his own army, Edward gained the respect of his soldiers through his courage and fair sharing of spoils, which helped him earn respect from his commanders and vassals.

He frequently led from the front, which exposed him to personal danger but inspired those under his command.

He rewarded loyalty with titles and land, and he took his knightly duties seriously.

He displayed a steady dedication to knightly ideals. His campaigns in Gascony and Aquitaine showed his ability to rule as well as conquer, as he worked to keep English control in these regions through negotiation with rewards and sometimes force. 

However, his leadership style was also strict and dependent on the loyalty of the nobles.

In the later years of his life, as Prince of Aquitaine, Edward’s unwillingness to reach agreement with rebellious Gascon nobles caused a damaging civil war in the region.

His high taxes to fund military campaigns turned away key supporters. His rule started to fall apart, and the formerly respected leader became increasingly isolated.

Although his earlier battlefield leadership had earned widespread praise, his later decisions as a regional governor made people question his political decisions. 

Claims of cruelty were most clearly connected to the sack of Limoges in 1370.

According to writers such as Jean Froissart, after the city had switched sides to the French, Edward ordered a violent attack in which thousands of civilians were killed.

Froissart claimed that over 3,000 people died in a single day. The prince’s defenders argued that the city had committed treason and that the massacre served as a warning to other towns.

Critics viewed it as a harsh punishment that went against the rules of knightly warfare.

The event created a permanent stain on his reputation and raised questions about his ethical responsibility as a commander. 

Modern historians remain divided over the accuracy of the reported death toll at Limoges, but there is no doubt that Edward approved and oversaw harsh revenge actions.

His chevauchée tactics, which involved burning villages, destroying crops, and scaring local populations, were common practice in medieval warfare but caused great suffering.

These actions added to the fear he caused in France. His enemies dreaded his military skill and feared the destruction that followed in his path.

The name "Black Prince" may have arisen from either the colour of his armour or the fear he caused among the French. 

Despite his violent reputation in war, Edward's personal life followed the ideals of faithful devotion.

In 1361, he married Joan of Kent, a wealthy heiress and cousin to the king. Their union caused a court scandal because Joan had previously been married and had children.

Nevertheless, the two shared a strong personal connection, and their marriage was one of genuine love instead of political convenience.

Their son, Richard, was born in 1367 and would later become King Richard II. 

The Black Prince's devotion to his wife and family brought a rare moment of peace in a life dominated by conflict and politics.

He remained faithful to Joan, and there are no records of him fathering illegitimate children or taking mistresses, which was unusual among royal men of his time.

Their household welcomed poets, scholars, and courtiers, and for a short time, it became a centre of court culture in Aquitaine.

In contrast to his ruthless reputation on the battlefield, his home life showed him as a loyal husband and caring father. 

During the later years of his life, Edward’s health worsened quickly. He may have suffered from dysentery, caught during the Spanish campaign in 1367, or from a long-term illness such as nephritis.

From 1369 onwards, he became increasingly unable to fulfil his military or political duties.

He withdrew from Aquitaine and returned to England in poor condition. Though he briefly returned to his role in the royal council, his strength continued to fail.

In June 1376, he died at the age of 45. His death left a mixed record that showed well-known service and harsh actions and showed the growing weakness that had overtaken him. 

Before his death, Edward arranged for his young son, Richard, to be recognised as heir to the throne.

He also requested a tomb in Canterbury Cathedral, near the shrine of St Thomas Becket.

His statue shows him in full armour, and his helmet and shield display his coat of arms.

The writing on it calls him a warrior and servant of God and asks future generations to pray for his soul.

In death, the Black Prince remained a figure who inspired both respect and uneasiness, a man who embodied the attitudes of his time in all its violence and honour.