In antiquity an ampulla was a vessel bellying out like a jug, that contained unguents for the bath. The term was also used for a vessel for drinking at table. The ampulla has also been employed for ceremonial purposes, such as holding the oil or chrism used in various churchrites and for anointing monarchs at their coronation. The ampulla of the English sovereigns now in use is an eagle, weighing about 10 oz, of the purest chased gold, which passed through various hands to the Black Prince. Research Ampulla
Ich Dien (German: I serve) was the motto under the plume of ostrich feathers found in the helmet of the king of Bohemia slain at the Battle of Cressy, at which he served as a volunteer in the French army, in 1346. Edward the Black Prince, in respect to his father, Edward III, who commanded at the battle, adopted the motto which has since been borne with the feathers, by the heirs to the crown of England. Research Ich Dien
Bertrand Du Guesclin was Constable of France. He was born about 1314 and died in 1380. He was largely responsible for the expulsion of tlie English from Normandy, Guienne, and Poitou. He was captured by Chandos at the battle of Auray in 1364, and ransomed for 100,000 francs. While serving in Spain against Peter the Cruel he was made prisoner by the English Black Prince, but was soon liberated. For his services in Spain be was made Constable of Castile, Count of Trastamare, and Duke of Molinas; and in 1370 he was made Constable of France. Research Bertrand Du Guesclin
Charles west Cope was an English painter. He was born in 1811 and died in 1890. He studied at the Royal Academy and in Italy, and first exhibited at the academy in 1831. In 1843 he gained a prize of 300 pounds for his picture 'The First Trial by Jury;' in 1844, by his fresco the 'Meeting of Jacob and Rachael,' secured the commission for one of six frescoes for the House of Lords, producing accordingly 'Edward the Black Prince receiving the Order of the Garter.' Altogether he has executed eight frescoes from English history of the 17th century for the House of Lords, while his other works have been numerous, the subjects being historical, romantic, or domestic. Of note are Last Days of CardinalWolsey, Prince Henry before Justice Gascoigne, Departure of the Pilgrim Fathers, Burial of Charles I, Parting of LordWilliam and Lady Russell, L'Allegro and Il Penseroso, Milton's Dream, Shylock and Jessica, Ann Page and Slender, Lear and Cordelia. He became ARA in 1844 and RA in 1848, but retired in 1883. Research Charles Cope
Duke is the highest rank in the British peerage. Dukes take precedence over all except princes and princesses of royal blood and certain officials of the Crown. The first duke to be created in England was Edward the Black Prince, who was made Duke of Cornwall in 1337. The honour is rarely given in modern times except to princes of royal blood; and the duchy of Westminster, created in 1874, was the last to be given to anyone not of the royal family. The duke's mantle has four rows of ermine on the cape, and his coronet is formed of a circle of silver gilt, surmounted by eight strawberry leaves, with a cap of crimsonvelvet topped with a golden tassel, which is turned up with ermine. The oldest existing duchy in the United Kingdom is the dukedom of Norfolk, which was created in 1483. A letter to a duke should be addressed: To His Grace the Duke of -.
At various periods and in different continental countries the title duke (Herzog in Germany) has been given to the actual sovereigns of small states. The title 'grand-duke' and 'grand-duchess,' 'archduke' and ' archduchess,' were also in use on the European continent, the latter to distinguish the princes and princesses of the Austrian imperial family. Research Duke
Edward III was the son of Edward II and King of England from 1327 to 1377. Edward III was crowned King at the age of fourteen and assumed government in his own right in 1330. In 1337, Edward created the Duchy of Cornwall to provide the heir to the throne with an income independent of the sovereign or the state. An able soldier, and an inspiring leader, Edward founded the Order of the Garter in 1348. At the beginning of the Hundred Years War in 1337, actual campaigning started when the King invaded France in 1339 and laid claim to the throne of France. Following a sea victory at the Battle of Sluys in 1340, Edward overran Brittany in 1342 and in 1346 he landed in Normandy defeating the French King, Philip IV, at the Battle of Crecy and his son Edward (the Black Prince) repeated his success at Poitiers in 1356. By 1360 Edward controlled over a quarter of France. His successes consolidated the support of the nobles, lessened criticism of the taxes, and improved relations with Parliament.
However, under the 1375 Treaty of Bruges the French King, Charles V, reversed most of the English conquests; Calais and a coastal strip near Bordeaux were Edward's only lasting gain. Failure abroad provoked criticism at home. The Black Death plague outbreaks of 1348 to 1349, 1361 to 1362 and 1369 inflicted severe social dislocation (the King himself losing a daughter to the plague) and caused deflation; severe laws were introduced to attempt to fix wages and prices. In 1376, the 'Good Parliament' attacked the high taxes and criticised the King's advisers. The ageing King withdrew to Windsor for the rest of his reign, eventually dying at Sheen Palace, Surrey. Research Edward III
Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales, was the eldest son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. He was born in 1330 and died in 1376. He first distinguished himself at the Battle of Crecy in 1346 where he commanded part of
the forces, and it was on this occasion that he adopted the motto Ich dien (I serve), used by all succeeding princes of Wales. In 1355 he commanded the army which invaded France from Gascony, and in 1356 won the Battle of Poitiers and in 1360 the peace of Bretigny was made by which the provinces of Poictou, Saintonge, Perigord, Limousin were annexed to Guienne and formed into a sovereignty for the prince under the title of the Principality of Aquitaine.. In 1367 he went to the aid of Pedro the Cruel, king of Castile and defeated Henry of Trastamare at Najera. To recoup his expenses incurred in Spain Edward levied a hearth tax on his Gascon subjects, who rebelled and appealed to the French king, Charles V. War was declared in 1369 and the English suffered disaster, Edward retreating to England. He was the first duke created, in 1337 being made duke of Cornwall. Research Edward the Black Prince
Jacob Van Arteveld was a brewer of Ghent. He was born about 1300 and died about 1345. He was selected by his fellow-townsmen to lead them in their struggles against CountLouis of Flanders. In 1338 he was appointed captain of the forces of Ghent, and for several years exercised a sort of sovereign power. A proposal to make the Black Prince, son of Edward III of England, governor of Flanders led to an insurrection, in which Arteveld lost his life Research Jacob Van Arteveld
John II was king of France. He was born in 1319 and died in 1364. He became king in 1350 and reigned until he was defeated and captured by the Black Prince at Poitiers in 1356. He was released in 1360, but failing to raise the money for his ransom, returned to England in 1364 where he died. Research John II
Prince of Wales is the title of the heir apparent of the British throne. It was first conferred by Edward I on his son, who afterwards was Edward II, at the time of his conquest of the Principality of Wales. Edward III was never
Prince of Wales, but the title has been conferred on all the male heirs- apparent to the English (and afterwards British) throne from Edward the Black Prince, son of Edward III. The heir-apparent is made Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester by special creation and investiture, or by proclamation, but as the king's eldest son he is by inheritance Duke of Cornwall. Research Prince of Wales
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Ampulla
