The King’s Second Son: A Biographical Study of Edmund of Lancaster, 1245–1274, with a Calendar of his Charters and Letters to 1296

Morey, Oliver David (2025) The King’s Second Son: A Biographical Study of Edmund of Lancaster, 1245–1274, with a Calendar of his Charters and Letters to 1296. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

This thesis offers a biographical study of Edmund, earl of Lancaster (1245–1296), second son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence, focusing on his life and career during his father’s reign from his birth to the coronation of his brother, Edward I, in 1274. It explores Edmund’s role as a royal second son, or ‘spare’, as a case study in medieval dynastic politics, examining how ruling families sought to manage and empower younger sons to ensure dynastic stability.

Structured chronologically, the thesis examines Edmund’s early life and career across six chapters. Chapter One analyses his birth, early upbringing, and the education expected of a potential heir. Chapter Two reinterprets the Sicilian Business, shifting focus from papal politics to Edmund’s role as a child king. Chapter Three assesses his political emergence during the period of reform and civil war, highlighting his early role as a royal agent. Chapter Four addresses the post-civil war period, untangling the grants that became the foundation of the Lancastrian inheritance and his increased involvement in English politics. Chapter Five investigates his preparations for the crusade and the transitory nature of his knightly household as a member of the royal family. Chapter Six reinterprets Edmund’s political role during Edward’s absence following Henry III’s death, considering his efforts to preserve political stability in a kingdom without a king.

Overall, the thesis argues that Edmund’s life and career offers a new perspective on dynastic politics and Plantagenet kingship in the thirteenth century, revealing the strategic value and structural constraints of second sons within thirteenth-century royal dynasties. In addition to the main text, the thesis includes an appendix of Edmund of Lancaster’s charters and letters, brought together in calendar form for the first time.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of History
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2026 07:56
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2026 07:56
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/103326
DOI:

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