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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]].

He is best remembered for his conquest of [[Wales]], and for the series of campaigns in [[Scotland]].  

He is best remembered for his conquest of [[Wales]], and for the series of campaigns in [[Scotland]], for which he became known as the 'Hammer of the Scots'.  

The Welsh and England had had a restive relationship for centuries, paralleled by  frequent periods of unrest within Wales as local rulers fought for supremacy. By 1250 the Welsh prince, [[Llewellyn II ap Gruffydd]] had been reduced to the rank of an English baron, owing fealty to the Crown of England. During the next couple of decades Llewellyn extended his control until, in 1267,  the Treaty of Montgomery recognised him as “Prince of Wales”, and although still a vassal of the King of England, he ruled a land recognised as purely Welsh.

The Welsh and England had had a restive relationship for centuries, paralleled by  frequent periods of unrest within Wales as local rulers fought for supremacy. By 1250 the Welsh prince, [[Llewellyn II ap Gruffydd]] had been reduced to the rank of an English baron, owing fealty to the Crown of England. During the next couple of decades Llewellyn extended his control until, in 1267,  the Treaty of Montgomery recognised him as “Prince of Wales”, and although still a vassal of the King of England, he ruled a land recognised as purely Welsh.