William Montagu led the October 1330 coup that gave Edward III personal control of England — overthrowing the regency of Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer. How did Montagu's 24 armed knights get into Nottingham Castle, past Mortimer's well-guarded garrison?
Eland was the castle constable and had been recruited into the conspiracy in advance; he revealed the existence of a Norman-period underground passage that ran from the cliffs below the castle into the keep itself — forgotten by the main garrison but still usable. Montagu's 24 knights climbed through the tunnel on the night of 19 October 1330, met Edward inside the castle, moved to the queen's bedchamber, and seized Mortimer at sword-point. Isabella reportedly cried out *Bel fitz, eez pitee du gentil Mortimer* ('Fair son, have pity on the gentle Mortimer'). Edward did not have pity. Mortimer was hanged at Tyburn six weeks later.
Read the full story →William Montagu was Edward III's closest personal friend from boyhood. He was 29 in October 1330 when he led the small group of armed knights who climbed through the secret tunnel into Nottingham Castle, seized Roger Mortimer in the queen's bedchamber, and gave Edward III sole control of the English crown. Montagu was rewarded with the earldom of Salisbury.
Related questions
- How was Roger Mortimer executed in 1330 after Edward III's midnight coup at Nottingham Castle?
- Roger Mortimer ran England for three years through his lover, Queen Isabella, after deposing her husband Edward II in 1326. The teenage king Edward III overthrew him in a midnight coup at Nottingham Castle in 1330. How was Mortimer executed?
- In 1326 the Queen of England raised a small army in the Low Countries, invaded her husband's kingdom, deposed him, and ran the country for three years with her lover. The husband was Edward II. The queen was?
- By what nickname is Isabella of France, queen of Edward II of England, traditionally known?