Capture of London

The Capture of London was a major event of the Despenser Wars. Isabella of France, the wife of King Edward II, took the City of London, the principal city of the Kingdom of England, after her husband the King abandoned the Tower and fled to the west.

Events
In the Spring of 1326, Isabella arranged a future marriage between her son Edward and Philippa, the daughter of William, count of Hainault. Isabella claimed part of Philippa's dowry in advance so that she could finance her planned invasion of England. Her aim was to remove the King from his throne and to replace him with Prince Edward. In September, Isabella with her supporters, who included her lover Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, landed by the River Orwell in Suffolk. She had no difficulty in raising an army from those opposed to the king, and they advanced on London. As Isabella neared London, with Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, she evaded a force under Despenser sent by Edward to intercept her. Isabella's army of some 1,500 men had fought its way deep into England already, King Edward remaining in London throughout.

Isabella moved yet closer to the capital, with Edward and his most loyal forces holding the Tower of London. However, London was against him, and fearing a heavy defeat the king decided to leave the city and head west with his supporters, including the Earl of Winchester and the other Despensers. The small royal army retreated speedily to Gloucester, leaving the way clear for Isabella and Mortimer to take London without a fight. Isabella had almost completed her campaign.