Edward I : A modern English monarch for an newly evolved nation of England.

When he ascended to the throne in 1272, , the Lord Edward was now a mature and accomplished man of thirty-three. He had married Eleanor of Castile at the age of fifteen and when she was thirteen. Although a marriage arranged through political convenience, as most were, it proved to be an unusually happy union.

Queen consort Eleanor of Castile

‘Although the marriage was borne from cynical political intrigue!

Their love for each other would show not one sign of fatigue!’

Edward was on his way back from the Ninth Crusade with his wife when he heard of his father’s death in November 1272, but would not arrive in England until 1274. One of the reasons for his late arrival was because an assassin had managed to stab him in June 1272 and although wounded, Edward fought him off, killing the assailant.

‘I grabbed the dagger from the assassin’s murderous hand!

With it I thrust at him, and it was his blood not mine, which flowed so very freely in the sand!

A later depiction of Edward dispatching his would-be assassin.

Fearing a poisoned blade, legend has it that Eleanor had sucked the wound clean with her own mouth. Accurate or not, the royal couple were by all accounts, completely devoted to each other.

Another reason for his relatively leisurely journey home was the fact that his accession to the throne was assured. In fact Edward had been proclaimed king when his father died, which was unusual, as this was normally done at the coronation itself. In his absence the realm was being ruled by a royal council selected by Edward before his departure for the Ninth Crusade. He would be crowned king at Westminster on August 19th 1274. Edward had many vassals throughout the British Isles, and all were expected to attend the coronation and swear fealty to the new king. One prince, conspicuous by his absence was the Welsh leader, Llewelyn-ap-Gruffydd. This act of discourtesy constituted an unforgiveable breach of royal protocol, and one that Edward would not forget.

Edward was probably the first ‘English’ king to rule the realm since the Norman Conquest. This was a little ironic, given that in terms of being a warrior-lawyer king he resembled his ancestor, the staunchly Norman William the Conqueror, more closely than any of the other medieval monarchs.

A very different England from that of William’s day was emerging by the mid-13th century. The distinction between Dane, Norman and Saxon had gradually disappeared during the passing of the intervening two centuries, and the country had evolved into a ‘new’ England with a common national identity. In fact given the events of his reign, Edward might also be dubbed the first ‘British’ king.

‘With the advent of Edward’s reign!

All were now one, whether they be Saxon, Norman or Dane!’

Edward would alter the way that the ‘new’ England was to be ruled. In fact he would build on the progressive base laid down by his nemesis, Simon (Monty) de Montfort).

King Edward resolved to create an empire, not overseas but within the British isles, namely Scotland and Wales. Areas of Ireland were already under the jurisdiction of the English Crown, a process begun by Edward’s great-grandfather, Henry II.

The conquest of Wales.

Round one.

His first priority was to be Wales, the relationship between the English and the Welsh had been characterised by conflict for centuries. Edward intended nothing less than the eventual total subjugation of the country to English rule. In late 1277, Edward led a large army into Wales. It was the expedition which would reveal the new king’s superb military aptitude. Of course Edward was still smarting from Llewelyn’s insulting behaviour regarding the coronation. One might imagine him mulling over the situation and exclaiming:

‘First of all, the mangy Welsh cur refuses the invitation to attend my coronation and then fails to show up for an appointment with me at Shrewsbury! He goes on to attack areas of my realm and tells everyone that he is going to marry Monty’s daughter Eleanor, come November! Talk about throwing down the gauntlet! For these insults and injuries he must pay!’

Eleanor de Montfort.

Edward, angered at Llewelyn’s temerity, was determined to give the Welsh leader a short, sharp shock and indeed this was swiftly applied. Advancing into North Wales with 15,000 soldiers many of whom travelled by ship to Anglesey, he was able to cut off Llewelyn from his principal supply of food. Faced with the effects of Edward’s prompt action and with winter approaching, Llewelyn realised that he was in a vulnerable position to say the least.

‘Oh Llewelyn, to King Edward, you were so, so rude!

Now he invades Wales and gathers up for himself your private supply of food!

Dear Llewelyn, you will now have to admit that you acted out of error and sin!

In this instance it was for Edward a very big win!

All that you achieved was to place on Edward’s face, an almighty grin!’

There was no alternative but to surrender, and Llewelyn was forced to agree to humiliating terms as laid down by the Treaty of Aberconwy of November 1277. The Welsh prince was deprived of much of his territory, which was ceded to English control. Edward cemented his victory by building a ring of castles throughout his newly won territory. Llewelyn was left with only the western area of Gwynedd but surprisingly, in a spirit of magnanimity, Edward him allowed to retain the title ‘Prince of Wales’. Indeed, the obliging Edward also gave his permission for the marriage of Llewelyn and Eleanor de Montfort to take place. It was a case of round one to the English Crown, but the matter was not to be left to rest there. Hostilities would later recommence after a relatively short interval.