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Black
Prince I
It
is incredible to think that the Black Prince's Ruby, now sitting safely aloft in the Imperial Crown of England
locked away in the Tower of London, has been witness
to some of the most historically important events in
European history. Born out of the fire and brimstone
of 13th Century Spain, the Black Prince’s Ruby was
baptized in a medieval Europe immersed in a sea of flailing
weapons and feudal conflicts. |
In 1492 A.D., the Spanish explorer Columbus discovered
America, that same year King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
pushed the occupying Moors out of Spain and back into
their native North Africa. Prior to 1492’s events, Spain
had been split into a multitude of principalities, governed
over by a number of kings both Christian and Muslim,
all intent on disposing of their adversaries by any
means necessary . |
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T he Spanish city of Granada, in the southern principality
of Andalusia, was ruled over by a Moorish prince called
Mohammed. One day, Mohammed was attacked and dethroned
by his brother-in-law Abu Said. Fleeing for his life,
Mohammed journeyed to the city of Seville ruled over
by Lord Don Pedro ‘The Cruel’, in the neighboring state
of Castile. In answer to Mohammed’s pleas for help,
Don Pedro’s army fought and defeated Abu Said forcing
the aspirant king to render himself to Seville to arrange
peace . |
Abu Said, accompanied by a numerous and magnificent
entourage laden with tributes of gold, silver and precious
gems, was politely received. However, the next day at
Don Pedro's order, Abu Said and all his attendants were
murdered. Pedro’s actions were motivated by the wealth
of the Moorish prince's jewels, amongst which Pedro
had found an immense red Ruby the same that is now set
in the crown of England. |
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D on Pedro ‘The Cruel’, although enriched by his spoils,
soon felt the instability of human greed himself
when his illegitimate brother Henry of Trastamara raised
an army of French mercenaries in order to overthrow
him. Don Pedro couldn’t make a stand against such adversaries
so he hurried to Bordeaux in France, at that time an
annex of England, to rally the support of one of the
sons of an English king. |
T he Black Prince, whose real name was Prince Edward
‘Plantagenet’, was the eldest son of King Edward III
of England. It is not really known where his nickname
‘The Black Prince’ stemmed from; some say that he wore
black armor into battle, while others say it was due
to his ruthless and sometimes cruel nature. Whatever
they said the Black Prince was a noted warrior, knight
and an undisputed military tactician with a gift for
commanding his army. His most brilliant military achievement
was the battle of Poitiers where he defeated, at insurmountable odds, thousands of French soldiers and knights against an out numbered English army. Poitiers was one of the many battles waged between
England and France during ‘The Hundred Years War’. |
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W hen Don Pedro arrived in Bordeaux, he promised a bounty
of treasure to the Black Prince if he would come to
his aid. Tempted, the Black Prince led his troops into
the battle of Najera on April 3, 1367 defeating Henry
and decimating the French army. Then and there, the jubilant Don Pedro presented the Black
Prince with the splendid Ruby for which he had murdered
Abu Said. Afterwards, Don Pedro left the ‘Black Prince’
to go to Seville and gather the remaining treasure he
had promised. |
Alas for the ailing Black Prince, Pedro never returned
and the Prince’s health deteriorated with 'Dropsy', forcing
him to return to England where he eventually died.
However, before his death he learnt that justice had
been done, and the treacherous Don Pedro had been captured
and executed personally by his brother Henry and his
kingdom lost. The legend of the Black Prince and
the infamous Ruby had now become one.
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