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'''EDWARD I''' (1239-1307), [[King]] of [[England]] (1272-1307) was the embodiment of many of the perceptions and ideals of the medieval king. He was very tall (nicknamed “Longshanks”), intelligent, articulate and at his succession, already an experienced battle commander, having  been the architect of the victory over [[Simon de Montfort]] at Evesham in 1265 and distinguishing himself in action during the truncated [[Eighth Crusade]] (1270).  

'''Edward I''' (1239-1307), also known as '''Longshanks'''), was the [[king]] of [[England]] and the embodiment of many of the perceptions and [[ideal]]s of the [[medieval]] king. He was very tall (nicknamed “Longshanks”), [[intelligence|intelligent]], articulate, and at his succession, already an experienced battle commander. He had been the architect of the victory over [[Simon de Montfort]] at Evesham in 1265 and distinguishing himself in action during the truncated [[Eighth Crusade]] (1270).  

He was very aware of his rights and privileges as the monarch of a major [[European]] [[feudal]] realm; but unlike his father, [[Henry III]] – indeed any king since [[Henry II]] a hundred years before – he also recognised the rights of his subjects and was a passionate believer in good and fair (for the period) governance. And he kept his word - as a young prince, when asked to break the oath he and his father, [[Henry III]] had made unwillingly at [[Oxford]] in 1258, he refused, although the barons had broken theirs. In his private life his love of his wife, [[Eleanor of Castile]], and his very public and prolonged mourning after her death in 1290 are well recorded. Some of the 12 “Eleanor Crosses” he had erected in memoriam at the resting places for her funeral cortege on its way from [[Lincoln]] to [[Westminster]] still stand.

He was very aware of his rights and privileges as the monarch of a major [[European]] [[feudal]] realm; but unlike his father, [[Henry III]] – indeed any king since [[Henry II]] a hundred years before – he also recognized the rights of his subjects and was a passionate believer in good and fair (for the period) governance. And he kept his word - as a young prince, when asked to break the oath he and his father, Henry III had made unwillingly at [[Oxford]] in 1258, he refused, although the barons had broken theirs. In his private life his love of his wife, [[Eleanor of Castile]], and his very public and prolonged mourning after her death in 1290 are well recorded. Some of the 12 “Eleanor Crosses” he had erected in memoriam at the resting places for her funeral cortege on its way from [[Lincoln]] to [[Westminster]] still stand.

He was, however, ruthless and could be extremely cruel. He had the [[Plantagenet]] temper and was quick to take offence.  

He was, however, ruthless and could be extremely cruel. He had the [[Plantagenet]] temper and was quick to take offence.  

In the early years of his reign, free from the interminable struggles against [[France]], hardly any aspect of the government of the realm, the relationship between Crown and Church, or the issue of law and order, was left untouched in Statutes approved at a series of [[Parliament]]s. He even re-confirmed the [[Magna Carta]].

In the early years of his reign, free from the interminable struggles against [[France]], hardly any aspect of the government of the realm, the relationship between Crown and Church, or the issue of law and order, was left untouched in Statutes approved at a series of [[Parliament]]s. He even re-confirmed the [[Magna Carta]].

Edward’s legacy is complicated. He left a country bankrupted by the almost constant warfare of the previous twenty years. He had secured his country’s western borders, but committed to the upkeep of massive castles and a holding army in Wales. His treatment of the Scots still causes rancour in Anglo-Scottish relations today. This may or may not  be balanced by the progress made in England’s standards of governance, and the greater reliance on parliament.  

Edward’s legacy is complicated. He left a country bankrupted by the almost constant warfare of the previous twenty years. He had secured his country’s western borders, but committed to the upkeep of massive castles and a holding army in Wales. His treatment of the Scots still causes rancour in Anglo-Scottish relations today. This may or may not  be balanced by the progress made in England’s standards of governance, and the greater reliance on parliament.  

• Arthur Bryant: “Makers of the Realm”

*Arthur Bryant: “Makers of the Realm”

• Norman Davies: “The Isles”

*Norman Davies: “The Isles”

• “The Oxford Companion to British History”

*“The Oxford Companion to British History”

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Edward 1}}