Edward's effigy on his tomb

 To his contemporaries, the Black Prince was the hero of the battles of Crécy, Poitiers and Nájera, and the villain of the sacking of the city of Limoges.

Edward III’s eldest son garnered a reputation as a chivalric hero, however later his heroism turned to villainy for some.
Prince Edward was just 16 in 1346 at the battle of Crécy when his father placed him in command of part of his army. But it was this force that received the brunt of the French attack . Prince Edward was knocked to the ground and had to be rescued by his standard bearer.
Edward III was informed of the danger his son was surrounded by but he refused to send reinforcements, reportedly stating: “Let the boy win his spurs.” Perhaps spurred on by his previous fall, Prince Edward fought fiercely and his actions were commended. He later became a founder member of the Order of the Garter.
Ten years later the 26-year-old prince decisively defeated the French army near the city of Poitiers and captured the French King, John II. This English victory established Prince Edward’s reputation as a successful warrior. He was praised for his chivalrous character, in particular his modesty, courage and courtesy on the battlefield. According to the medieval chronicler Jean Froissart, after the battle Prince Edward held a banquet in honour of the captured king and served him dinner.
Prince Edward’s reputation as a warrior was so well known that he was asked by King Pedro of Castile to aid him in his fight against his half-brother Henry of Trastamara for the Castilian throne. Prince Edward’s victory at the battle of Nájera on 3 April 1367 sealed his reputation as a successful warrior, though the Spanish campaign resulted in debt and illness for the prince.
However the famous and celebrated Prince Edward would face criticism for his brutal raiding expedition in France in 1355–56. Edward moved across France from Bordeaux, passing Toulouse, Carcassonne and Narbonne. He focused his attention on towns where he could inflict the most damage with the least resistance. During this campaign Sir John Wingfield wrote a letter to the bishop of Winchester proclaiming that “there was never such loss nor destruction as hath been in this raid”.
Granted Aquitaine by his father in 1362, Prince Edward ruled the principality that stretched across a third of France. The city of Limoges under the his rule had surrendered to the French – and Edward decided that it must be punished’ He laid siege then sacked it.
Some sources put the death toll of over 3,000 men, women and children, although this number cannot be proven.
Prince Edward died at the age of 45 in 1376, from a lingering illness, probably dysentery. His father, heartbroken at the loss of the son he had groomed to take over from him did his best to continue the memory of a brave prince knight. He requested that his tomb be located in Canterbury Cathedral depicting him as a resting knight. His sword, shield and armour were arranged above his tomb, providing a lasting tribute to his feats in war. Centuries after his death he earned the name the Black Prince, his supporters claim it was due to the unusual dark armour he chose to wear to stand out from his men, his detractors have a more sinister explanation, that it was a reminder of a cruel and brutal man who showed no mercy.

Picture of Edward's effigy on his tomb.

Source:

The Image of Edward the Black Prince in Georgian and Victorian England, Barbara Gribling