Page 84 - All About History - Issue 59-17

Hero or Villain?

King Ed
JoHn dEEward i

Caernarfon castle was one of the many
Edward had built in Wales, although he
wouldn’t live to see its completion

Edward I presides over a session of parliament circa 1295. He is
sometimes called the English Justinian for his passing of law codes
“ Murdering his rivals was part and parcel
of Edward’s campaigns, although he

A manuscript depiction of Simon de Montfort’s mutilated
corpse. This grizzly fate awaited many of Edward’s enemies would have seen them as traitors”

The wars in Scotland would earn him his most centuries of warfare and enmity between England Edward acted less than honourably during the
infamous nickname, ‘The Hammer of the Scots’, and Scotland as although there had been conflict war, agreeing to terms only to turn on his word
although this doesn’t seem to have been used in before, there had been friendship, too. when it suited him. During the siege of Gloucester,
his lifetime. Brought in to adjudicate a succession His unscrupulous and untrustworthy nature he parlayed with a rebel army larger than his own
crisis in Scotland, Edward saw an opportunity earned him another nickname, ‘Edward the that was sent to relieve the town — but once the
to seize the kingdom and launched an invasion. Leopard’, highlighting his braveness and ferocity rebels left and the danger had passed, he broke his
Initially successful against William Wallace after as well as his canny ability to get himself out of word and took the town, imprisoning and heavily
his victory at Falkirk, his grip was loosened sticky situations. One of his contemporaries ransoming its inhabitants.
by Robert the Bruce, who declared states that “when he is cornered he Edward was also quick to fight a psychological
himself monarch and sought to promises anything you like but war as well as a physical one. King Arthur, the
drive the invaders out. During once he has escaped he goes mythical saviour of the Britons, was still venerated
his subjugation of the Defining back on his word. The lying in Wales and during Edward’s invasion there was
kingdom, Edward lost the moment by which he gains his hope that this would be the hour of need in which
Great Seal of Scotland, Nothing but castles ends he calls prudence, he would return. To quash this hope, Edward had
used to officiate laws, Arguably Edward’s longest lasting whatever he wants he Arthur and Guinevere’s supposed bodies reburied
and many legal legacy was the series of castles he built all holds to be lawful as at Glastonbury — a statement that ensured the old
over Wales. Designed to bring order to this
documents — a setback rebellious land and show who was in control, if there are no legal legend stayed dead.
for royal governance. the imposing structures formed a stone ring bounds to his power.” Edward also refused to let the garrison at Stirling
Ownership of Scotland around the north, exerting Edward’s control In the civil war during Castle admit defeat until he had experimented
would remain Edward’s over the territory. Colossally expensive, Henry III’s reign, a young with his new siege engine, the War Wolf. This
some castles, like Caernarfon in North
driving ambition, even Wales, weren’t completed until after Edward initially sided giant trebuchet, possibly the largest ever built, so
after death. One account Edward’s death. with the rebels, led by intimidated the defenders that they sought terms
of his death sees the king 1276 Simon de Montfort, but later of surrender — only Edward’s reply was, “You don’t
leaving instructions that his switched to crush the revolt. deserve any grace, but must surrender to my will.”
body was to be taken on campaign At the Battle of Evesham, Edward Not a man known for his mercy, Edward had a
so that he would be present when employed subterfuge by approaching de reputation for cruelty and brutality and his cold-
Robert the Bruce was defeated. Unfortunately his Montfort under his son’s banner, which had been blooded treatment of his captives was well known.
dreams would come to naught as his son Edward II captured at Kenilworth. This rather duplicitous act When Robert the Bruce’s sister and the countess
was defeated at the Battle of Bannockburn. It could won the Edward the day but ended up marring his of Buchan were captured, they were suspended in
be argued that Edward was responsible for the reputation somewhat. cages above the towns of Berwick and Roxburgh —

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