The Legacy of Edward I: Military Conquest of Wales and Scotland

Alex StephensHONS 381: Royal Britain

Thesis

Although Edward I did many great things, socially and politically, for England, his military exploits in both the

Welsh Wars and the Scottish Wars for Independence overshadow any and all other accomplishments of his reign

and make up the majority his legacy.

Primary Sources

Letter from Henry III to Edward I

Caernarfon Castle (Welsh Building Project)

Treaty of Salisbury and Treaty of Birgham

Letter From Henry III to Edward I (c.1267)

“What have I to do with the matter? I have given you the land; you must defend it with your own resources. I have plenty of other business

to do.”

Caernarfon Castle- Beaumaris Castle- Conwy Castle- Harlech Castle

Treaty of Salisbury(1289)

“The King of England faithfully promises that if the lady comes into his hands of custody free and quit of any contract of marriage and betrothal then, when the kingdom of Scotland is completely settled

and at peace so that the lady may safely stay there, and when the king of England is requested to do so by the people of Scotland, the king will send the lady to Scotland, as free and quit of all contracts…as when he received her: provided that the good people of Scotland

before they receive the lady give proper and adequate guarantee to the king of England that they will in no sense marry the lady except

with his decree, agreement and advice of her father the king of Norway.”

Treaty of Birgham (1290)

“We [Edward I] promise…that the kingdom of Scotland shall remain separate and divided from the kingdom of England by its rightful

boundaries and borders as has been observed up to now and that it shall be free in itself and independent, reserving always the right of our lord or whoever which has belonged to him or to anyone in the

borders elsewhere.”

Secondary Sources

History of the Monarchy, The Official Website of the British Monarch—"Edward I 'Longshanks' (r. 1272-1307)."

The Welsh Wars of Edward I: A Contribution to Mediaeval Military History, Based on Original Documents (1901) by John E. Morris

Highlights of Evidence

Campaigns abroad and the approval of the English people

Discontent that English citizens faced under Welsh rule

Statements made by policies in Wales and actions against Prince Llwelyn of Wales

He developed modern Parliament model and altered coinage system, but these things are not what set him apart from other monarchs

Scottish Wars spurred on tension between England and Scotland that would last many more years

Most Interesting Find and Contribution to History

Personal Relationships of Edward I

With his first wife, Eleanor of Castile

With his second wife, Margaret of France

With his oldest son, who would become King Edward II

With his father, King Henry III

Sources

“Letter from Edward I to Henry III.” In Letters of the Kings of England: Now First Collected from the Originals in Royal Archives, and from Other Authentic Sources, Private as Well as Public, edited by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps. London: Henry Colburn Press, 1846.

“Treaty of Birgham” Education Scotland. 1290. Accessed March 13, 2015. http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/higherscottishhistory/warsofindependence/successionandgreatcause/sources.asp

“Treaty of Salisbury” Education Scotland. 1289. Accessed March 10, 2015. http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/higherscottishhistory/warsofindependence/successionandgreatcause/sources.asp

“Edward I ‘Longshanks’ (r. 1272-1307).” History of the Monarchy, The Official Website of the British Monarch. Accessed January 24, 2015. http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensofEngland/ThePlantagenets/EdwardILongshanks.aspx.

Fraser, Rebecca. 2003. The Story of Britain: From the Romans to the Present: A Narrative History. New York and London: W.W. Norton & Company. Pp 176-184.

Morris, John Edward. 1901. The Welsh Wars of Edward I: A Contribution to Mediaeval Military History, Based on Original Documents. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Williamson, David. 1998. The Kings and Queen of England. London: National Portrait Gallery. Pp. 54-57.