John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John of Eltham |
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| Earl of Cornwall | |
John on the family tree of English kings
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| Born | 15 August 1316 Eltham Palace, Kent |
| Died | 13 September 1336 (aged 20) Perth, Scotland |
| Burial | 15 January 1337 Westminster Abbey, London |
| Father | Edward II of England |
| Mother | Isabella of France |
John of Eltham, 1st Earl of Cornwall (born August 15, 1316 – died September 13, 1336) was a prince from England. He was the second son of King Edward II of England and Queen Isabella of France. For a time, he was next in line to the English throne. This was before his nephew, Edward, the Black Prince, was born.
Contents
Life of John of Eltham
John was born in 1316 at Eltham Palace in Kent, England. When he was twelve, on October 6, 1328, he was given the title of Earl of Cornwall.
Early Years and Family Troubles
John grew up during a difficult time for his family. His father, King Edward II, and his mother, Queen Isabella, were in conflict. This meant John was sometimes with one parent and sometimes with the other. He was even held in the Tower of London for a short time. Later, his older brother, Edward III, took control of the kingdom.
Trusted by the King
Even though there isn't a lot of information about John, historians say he was very capable. His brother, King Edward III, trusted him a lot. John was named "Guardian of the Realm" when Edward III was away from England. This meant John was in charge of the country. He was also asked to open Parliament when the King was not there. John was also made "Warden of the northern Marches." This gave him a lot of power in that part of England.
Marriage Plans
As a younger brother of the King, John was expected to marry someone important. There were talks about him marrying several princesses from other countries.
- In 1328, there were talks about him marrying María Díaz de Haro from Spain.
- In 1334, he was supposed to marry Maria de La Cerda. This plan was stopped when England and France had problems.
- In 1335, there were discussions about him marrying Joan, the Countess of Penthièvre from Brittany.
However, none of these marriage plans ever happened.
Military Role
When John was sixteen, he became an important commander. He fought in the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. This was a big defeat for the Scottish army. Later, he led an army in southwest Scotland. His job was to stop people from fighting against Edward Balliol. Edward Balliol was a Scottish noble supported by England who wanted to be King of Scotland.
A Story of His Death
Some old Scottish stories say that John was very harsh during the war. One story says he burned down Lesmahagow Abbey. People had gone there for safety from the English soldiers. The Scottish writer John of Fordun wrote that King Edward III was so angry about this, he killed his own brother, John. However, modern historians say this story is not true. It is more like a legend than real history.
John probably died from a fever in Perth, Scotland. He was only 20 years old. In January 1337, King Edward III buried his brother with great honor. John's beautiful tomb, made of alabaster, is in Westminster Abbey in London. King Edward III also made sure that prayers were said for John's soul regularly.
Arms
As the Earl of Cornwall, John used a special coat of arms. It was similar to the King's coat of arms for England. But John's had a special border around it. This border was blue with many golden fleur-de-lys symbols.
See also
In Spanish: Juan de Eltham para niños
