Edward of woodstock prince of wales was the eldest son of king edward iii of england in his early life he was known as edward of woodstock after his birthplace in oxfordshire he was never known as the black prince during his lifetime the title seems to have originated during the 16th century he was an exceptional military leader and commanded the vanguard of the english army at the battle of crecy when he was only 16 in 1348 he founded and became the first knight of the order of the garter