born June 15, 1330, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Eng.
died June 8, 1376, Westminster, near London
Prince of Wales (1343–76).
Son of Edward III , he apparently received his sobriquet because he wore black armour. He was one of the outstanding commanders of the Hundred Years' War , winning a major victory at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. He was prince of Aquitaine 1362–72; his rule there was a failure, for which he was largely to blame. He returned sick and broken to England and formally surrendered his principality to his father. He had no successor as prince of Aquitaine. Though the heir apparent, he never became king; his son became Richard II .