July 7th, 1307
Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots
Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Before his accession to the throne, he was commonly referred to as The Lord Edward.
First Son of Henry III
The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved from an early age in the political intrigues of his father’s reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons. In 1259, he briefly sided with a baronial reform movement, supporting the Provisions of Oxford.
After reconciliation with his father, however he remained loyal throughout the subsequent armed conflict, known as the Second Barons’ War.
Hostage
After the Battle of Lewes, Edward was hostage to the rebellious barons, but escaped after a few months and defeated the baronial leader Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham in 1265.
Crusade
Within two years the rebellion was extinguished and, with England pacified, Edward joined the Ninth Crusade to the Holy Land.
King Herny III Died
He was on his way home in 1272 when he was informed that his father had died. Making a slow return, he reached England in 1274 and was crowned at Westminster Abbey.
Reformaing Laws
Edward spent much of his reign reforming royal administration and common law. Through an extensive legal inquiry, he investigated the tenure of various feudal liberties, while the law was reformed through a series of statutes regulating criminal and property law.
Back to Battle
Increasingly, however, Edward’s attention was drawn towards military affairs. After suppressing a minor rebellion in Wales in 1276–77, Edward responded to a second rebellion in 1282–83 with a full-scale war of conquest.
Wales
After a successful campaign, he subjected Wales to English rule, built a series of castles and towns in the countryside and settled them with English people.
Scotland
Next, his efforts were directed towards the Kingdom of Scotland. Initially invited to arbitrate a succession dispute, Edward claimed feudal suzerainty over Scotland.
The war that followed continued after Edward’s death, even though the English seemed victorious at several points.
France
Simultaneously, Edward found himself at war with France (a Scottish ally) after King Philip IV of France had confiscated the Duchy of Gascony, which until then had been held in personal union with the Kingdom of England. Although Edward recovered his duchy, this conflict relieved English military pressure against Scotland.
Problems at Home
At the same time there were problems at home. In the mid-1290s, extensive military campaigns required high levels of taxation, and Edward met with both lay and ecclesiastical opposition. These crises were initially averted, but issues remained unsettled.
Edward II Crowned King 1307
When the King died in 1307, he left to his son Edward II an ongoing war with Scotland and many financial and political problems.
Longshanks
Edward I was a tall man for his era, at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), hence the nickname “Longshanks”. He was temperamental, and this, along with his height, made him an intimidating man, and he often instilled fear in his contemporaries. Nevertheless, he held the respect of his subjects for the way he embodied the medieval ideal of kingship, as a soldier, an administrator, and a man of faith.
Modern historians are divided on their assessment of Edward: while some have praised him for his contribution to the law and administration, others have criticized him for his uncompromising attitude towards his nobility.
Parliament made Permanent
Currently, Edward I is credited with many accomplishments during his reign, including restoring royal authority after the reign of Henry III, establishing Parliament as a permanent institution and thereby also a functional system for raising taxes, and reforming the law through statutes.
Edict of Expulsion in 1290
At the same time, he is also often criticized for issuing the Edict of Expulsion in 1290, by which the Jews were expelled from England. The Edict remained in effect for the rest of the Middle Ages, and it was over 350 years until it was formally overturned under Oliver Cromwell in 1657.
