Overthrown by Queen Isabella and her once-exiled lover, Roger Mortimer, on behalf of her then 14 year-old-son, Edward III, they established a regency with Edward III as a figurehead. This stop-gap action wasn't sufficient when, on June 14, a Scottish army of roughly 20,000 men violated the uneasy 13-year long truce, assaulting England from three separate points. The notorious Sir James Douglas, also known as 'Black Douglas', led raids into Cumbria, reinforcing his reputation for brutal attacks on Northern England. King Edward led his anxious army to the North on July 1, navigating through hostile weather, decimated villages, and unsettling secrecy from Scotland. Mortimer's recall order sparked anger in the young and powerless Edward III, deepening the rift in the ruling command.

Source: The Times December 04, 2023 00:05 UTC