Dissent and Disobedience in the Reign of Edward II

The English kings Edward I and II are normally depicted as vastly different in terms of their abilities, competencies, and overall skill at kingship. Yet each suffered through major periods of political dissent, and neither the forceful and energetic Edward nor the somewhat more unfortunate Edward II managed to reclaim full royal authority. Each monarch earned the ire of his realm and especially provoked a passionate protest of the nobility, which in both cases resulted in legislation forced upon the respective kings by their disgruntled aristocrats. Although perhaps the overarching cause for each episode was different – military financing for Edward I and political favoritism for Edward II – the circumstances may help shed light on the similarities and differences in how each king fared against steep opposition. Thus this paper seeks to compare and contrast the realities for political dissent under each king, focusing especially on the key documents indicative of the struggles.