John Deydras
Encyclopedia
John Deydras, also John of Powderham, was a pretender
to the English throne during the reign of Edward II
. He was executed in 1318 by hanging
and his body burnt.
was increasingly unpopular in England as a result of his style of government and his defeats while fighting Robert the Bruce
of Scotland. Opposition was growing to his rule, when a young clerk in Oxford
, John Deydras, also known as John of Powderham, issued claims that he was in fact the rightful heir to the throne.
in Oxford
in early 1318, and claimed it for his own. He was, he said, really the King of England, and observers noted that he closely resembled Edward, being tall and good-looking. Unlike the king, Deydras, however, was missing an ear. Deydras explained that as a baby, the royal servant charged to look after him had allowed him to be attacked by a sow
while he was playing in the castle courtyard, which had bitten off his ear. Knowing that she would have been severely punished by the King
, she had replaced him with a carter's baby, who had then grown up to become Edward II, while Deydras had been given to the carter to be brought up in poverty. This explained, said Dreydras, Edward's style of government and his strange dislike of martial activities - notoriously, Edward enjoyed many rustic, lower class pursuits such as ditch digging
and farming. Deydras offered to fight Edward in single combat for the throne. Rumours began to spread across England.
Deydras was finally arrested and brought to Edward at Northampton
. Deydras insulted the king, again offered to fight him in single combat and repeated his claims about Edward's parentage, resulting in a trial for sedition
. Deydras confessed during the trial to having made up his story, blaming his pet cat
which he claimed was the devil
in disguise, who had led him astray one day while he was walking across Christchurch Meadows
. Found guilty, both he and his cat were hanged and Deydras' body burnt.
, Edward's wife, who felt humiliated by the event.
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the English throne during the reign of Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
. He was executed in 1318 by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
and his body burnt.
Background
By 1318, Edward II of EnglandEdward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
was increasingly unpopular in England as a result of his style of government and his defeats while fighting Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
of Scotland. Opposition was growing to his rule, when a young clerk in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, John Deydras, also known as John of Powderham, issued claims that he was in fact the rightful heir to the throne.
Deydras' claims and execution
Deydras arrived at Beaumont PalaceBeaumont Palace
Beaumont Palace built outside the north gate of Oxford was intended by Henry I about 1130 to serve as a royal palace conveniently close to the royal hunting-lodge at Woodstock . Its former presence is recorded in Beaumont Street, Oxford...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in early 1318, and claimed it for his own. He was, he said, really the King of England, and observers noted that he closely resembled Edward, being tall and good-looking. Unlike the king, Deydras, however, was missing an ear. Deydras explained that as a baby, the royal servant charged to look after him had allowed him to be attacked by a sow
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
while he was playing in the castle courtyard, which had bitten off his ear. Knowing that she would have been severely punished by the King
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, she had replaced him with a carter's baby, who had then grown up to become Edward II, while Deydras had been given to the carter to be brought up in poverty. This explained, said Dreydras, Edward's style of government and his strange dislike of martial activities - notoriously, Edward enjoyed many rustic, lower class pursuits such as ditch digging
Ditch
A ditch is usually defined as a small to moderate depression created to channel water.In Anglo-Saxon, the word dïc already existed and was pronounced 'deek' in northern England and 'deetch' in the south. The origins of the word lie in digging a trench and forming the upcast soil into a bank...
and farming. Deydras offered to fight Edward in single combat for the throne. Rumours began to spread across England.
Deydras was finally arrested and brought to Edward at Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. Deydras insulted the king, again offered to fight him in single combat and repeated his claims about Edward's parentage, resulting in a trial for sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
. Deydras confessed during the trial to having made up his story, blaming his pet cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
which he claimed was the devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
in disguise, who had led him astray one day while he was walking across Christchurch Meadows
Christ Church Meadow, Oxford
Christ Church Meadow is a famous flood-meadow, and popular walking and picnic spot in Oxford, England.Roughly triangular in shape it is bounded by the River Thames , the River Cherwell, and Christ Church. It provides access to many of the college boat houses which are on an island at the confluence...
. Found guilty, both he and his cat were hanged and Deydras' body burnt.
Legacy
Today Deydras is believed to have been mentally ill; his story is not believed to have been true. Modern historians cite the case of Deydras as an example of the growing unhappiness with Edward II's rule during the period, and the protracted case appears to have deeply affected Isabella of FranceIsabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
, Edward's wife, who felt humiliated by the event.