King Edward I
Also known as ‘Longshanks’ - Edward was 6 foot 2 inches tall.
Edward conquered Wales and defeated Llewellyn at Gruffydd in 1282, who was the last ruler of Wales; in 1284 independence of the Welsh came to an end with the Statute of Rhuddlan.
The film ‘Braveheart’ is based on Edward’s reign. William Wallace defeated a large English army on 11th September 1297 – the Battle of Stirling Bridge – and re-captured Stirling Castle. In 1306 Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scotland.
Edward had taken part in the Eighth Crusade, and it is thought that whilst in the Holy Land that he planned to build major castles in Wales – Harlech Castle, Rhuddlan Castle, Flint Castle, Conwy Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Builth Castle, Beaumaris Castle and Aberystwyth Castle.
Edward was renowned for his fierce temper, but was happily married to Eleanor of Castile, and out of their 16 children only one son survived (Edward II), and five daughters. In 1301, Edward made his son the ‘Prince of Wales’ and since then this title has been conferred on the first-born son of the reigning monarch.
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The Edict of Expulsion came into force during Edward’s reign, (12th July 1290) which expelled all Jewish people from England, this remained so for 350 years until Oliver Cromwell overturned it in 1657.
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