en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_the_Black_Prince
2 corrections found
feudal obligations due to king Philip IV of France
This names the wrong French king. Edward III’s feudal obligations in the run-up to the Hundred Years’ War were owed to Philip VI, not Philip IV, who had died in 1314.
Full reasoning
The article is discussing the immediate causes of the Hundred Years’ War in the 1330s. By then, Philip IV had been dead for more than two decades; he died in 1314. The French king confronting Edward III in this period was Philip VI (reigned 1328–1350).
Reliable histories of the war describe Edward III’s dispute as being with Philip VI over feudal rights/homage for Gascony:
- World History Encyclopedia states that the war began when Edward III “squabbled with Philip VI of France … over feudal rights concerning Gascony.”
- HistoryExtra likewise says that Edward III “owed homage to Philip VI.”
So the clause should refer to obligations owed to Philip VI of France, not Philip IV.
2 sources
- Causes of the Hundred Years' War - World History Encyclopedia
The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) was ... fought between England and France that started when king Edward III of England ... squabbled with Philip VI of France ... over feudal rights concerning Gascony...
- The Battle Of Crécy: What Happened & Why? | HistoryExtra
In the mid-14th century, because the King of England held lands in France as a vassal of the French king, Edward III owed homage to Philip VI.
Black Prince's Ruby, a spinel Edward forced Peter of Castile to give to him after the Castilian campaign.
Standard reference works do not describe the Black Prince’s Ruby as something Edward ‘forced’ Peter of Castile to hand over. They describe it as a gift or reward—and some note that even that tradition is uncertain.
Full reasoning
This bullet overstates the story and appears to reverse the usual description of the gem’s provenance.
Authoritative references describe the stone as given to Edward after Nájera, not as something he forced Peter of Castile to surrender:
- Britannica says the stone “was given” to Edward by Pedro of Castile after the victory of Nájera.
- Historic Royal Palaces says Pedro “gave it” to Edward in 1367 “as a reward for helping him defeat a rival in battle.”
- Another Britannica entry goes further and says the stone “may or may not have been given to him,” which shows the provenance is at least partly traditional/uncertain.
So the problem is twofold: (1) the standard story is that the gem was given as a reward or gift, not extorted by Edward, and (2) even that story is sometimes presented as legendary or uncertain. The phrase “forced … to give” is therefore not supported by the usual historical references.
3 sources
- Black Prince’s ruby | Britannica
The stone was given to Edward the Black Prince by Pedro the Cruel, king of Castile, on the victory of Nájera in 1367.
- The Crown Jewels | Historic Royal Palaces
The Black Prince’s Ruby ... is actually a balas or spinel ... before he gave it to Edward, Prince of Wales ... in 1367 as a reward for helping him defeat a rival in battle.
- Edward The Black Prince | Britannica
The Black Prince’s ruby in the present imperial state crown may or may not have been given to him by King Peter of Castile after the Battle of Nájera...