Edward I

Edward I (1239-1307), King of England, b. Westminster, London.

Edward I, son of Henry III, was on a Crusade when his father died in 1272.

As king, his aim was to unite England with Scotland and Wales.

In 1276 he invaded Wales. Six years of fighting followed and then, in 1284, Wales was made subject to the throne of England.

Edward promised to give the Welsh leaders a prince who was born in Wales and did not speak a word of English or French, and he gave the title Prince of Wales to his baby son.

Since that time, the eldest son of the ruler of England has always become the Prince of Wales.

In 1290 the Scots asked Edward to choose a king for them. He chose John Baliol who agreed to be loyal to England but later made a treaty with France. Edward invaded Scotland and defeated him in battle. He captured many towns and castles and claimed the throne of Scotland. But the Scots rebelled and for the rest of his reign Edward had to deal with trouble in Scotland.

He was marching north against Robert Bruce when he died at Burgh-by-Sands, Cumberland, in north east England.

See Marc Morris A Great and Terrible King