EDWARD III. king of England and Wales, 14th century.

EDWARD III. king of England and Wales

Edward III. (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377) from the Anjou Plantagenet dynasty, was king of England and Wales from 1327 to 1377 and is considered one of the most important English rulers of the Medieval times.

AMONG the most interesting discoveries connected with the ancient palace of Westminster, were those of the paintings on the walls of St. Stephen’s chapel and of the room which from this characteristic has always been known by the name of the Painted Chamber.

Frequent discoveries made of late years combine to show how much painting was used in the Middle Ages for architectural decoration, particularly in churches: and numerous pictures in our illuminated manuscripts exhibit the magnificence which appeared in the decorations of the interiors of palaces.

The painting from which our plate is taken formerly appeared at the east end of St. Stephen’s Chapel. On the north side of the altar, the wall was painted with two ranges of figures: above were represented the three kings making their offering to the Savior, who was in the arms of the Virgin Mary; while the lower range was divided into seven compartments, or arched canopies like the one in this plate, containing the figures of St. George, Edward III., and his five sons.

St. George is represented as leading the king, to present him to the virgin. On the other side of the altar a similar series represented the female part of the royal family. A set of engravings in outline, of these paintings, diminished in size, was published by the Society of Antiquaries.

In this picture we have, in all probability, a tolerably accurate portrait of the king, taken soon after the year 1355, the date of the birth of his fifth son. The figures, if erect, would be in the original about eighteen inches high. Edward is represented in full armor. His crown is embossed and gilt; the helmet silvered, with its rim gilt. The mail also was embossed and gilt. The surcoat is quartered with the arms of England and France; the lions being embossed and gilt on a red field.

The wood cut  represents a cup of silver gilt, still preserved at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where it is used on festival days. This cup was presented to the college by its foundress, Mary de Valentia, countess of Pembroke; the date of the foundation was 1347. Round the bowl of the cup runs the following inscription: Sayn Denes y’ es me dere, For hes lof drenk and mak gud cher.

And below is inscribed: M. V. God help at ned.

M. V. are the initials of the donor’s name, Mary de Valencia. The initial are taken from a MS. of the reign of Edward III., preserved in the British Museum, MS. Reg. 6. E. IX. The latter is a specimen of diapered ornament from a piece of drapery in one of the illuminations.

Source: Dresses and Decorations of the Middle Ages by Henry Shaw F.S.A. London William Pickering 1843.

Related: (Medieval, Byzantine, Gothic, Burgundy, early Renaissance)

• Byzantine costume history. 5th to 6th century.
• The Barbarian Invasions. The Migration Period.
• The Frankish dominions in Merovingian times.
• Frankish Merovingian costume history.
• Clovis. The Merovingian Dynasty.
• Anglo-Saxon fashion history. England c. 460 to 1066.
• Harold II. Last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
• Britannia Saxonica. Chronology of the Anglo-Saxons.
• The Norman fashion period. England 1066-1154.
• Fashion history of medieval England. 12th, 13th c.
• 11th to 13th century French fashion history.
• 11th to 13th century German fashion history.
• 11th to 15th century Caps and Hoods fashion.
• 13th century French male fashion history.
• 14th to 15th century Italian fashion history.
• 14th century German fashion history.
• 14th century Headdresses
• 15th century German male fashion history.
• 15th century German female fashion history.
• 15th century medieval room interior. The history of Tobit. Historia Scholastica.
• The Hennin.
• The Reticulated Headdress.
• The Corset and the Crinoline. Introduction of Cottes-Hardies. The Ladies of Old France.
• Reigns of John and of Charles V. 1350 to 1380.
• Reigns of Charles VI. and Charles VII. 1380 to 1461.
• Reigns of Louis XI, Charles VIII, and Louis XII. 1461 to 1515
• The Modes of the Middle Ages by Paul Louis Victor de Giafferri.
• The French Fashion History (Overview of Article and Galleries)
• The Gallic and Gallo-Roman costume period.
• The Barbarian Invasions. The Migration Period. (Historical Atlas with descriptions.)
• Frankish Merovingian costume history 4th and 5th century
• Carolingian Period 752-987. Reign of Charlemagne. Byzantine fashion era.
• The Carolingian Fashion Period 987 to 1270. Byzantine fashion era.
• The Influence of the Crusaders to the French clothing.
• The First Crusade. The Knights Hospitallers. Monastic military order.
• The Crusades. The Knights Templar. Monastic military order.
• The Crusaders in the 12th and 13 Century. Monastic military order.
• The Rise of Monachism. Monastic costumes history.
• The Knights of the Teutonic Order of Knighthood. Monastic military order.
• Christine de Pisa presenting her manuscript  to Queen Isabeau of Bavaria.
• Eleanor of Aquitaine, Medieval Queen 12th century.
• The Romance of the Rose. The Art of courtly love.
• The Lady of Tournament delivering the Price.