Page 85 - All About History - Issue 59-17

Hero or Villain?

King Edward i

Defining
moment
The Stone of Destiny
During his subjugation of the country,
Edward I took one of Scotland’s most precious
royal items, the Stone of Destiny. This stone
had been used for generations to coronate and
legitimise of the kings of Scotland. The Stone
stayed at Westminster for centuries and was
only returned to its homeland in the 1990s,
where it now resides with the rest of the
Scottish crown jewels in
Edinburgh Castle.
Edward I had three nicknames — 1296
Longshanks, Hammer of the Scots and
Edward the Leopard

a treatment that Edward didn’t consider that harsh Other outbursts included chasing a hunting Aside from his cruelty and warmongering,
as he had provided them with latrines. companion with a drawn sword after the Edward did seem to have a vested interested in
Brutally murdering his rivals was part and unfortunate man lost control of his falcon and the wellbeing of his subjects. As king he issued the
parcel of Edward’s campaigns, although he would striking a page at his daughter Margaret’s wedding Hundred Rolls, a census to seek out corrupt royal
have seen them as traitors as they refused to bend — although he did pay compensation to the dazed officials and appoint more trustworthy men to their
to his will and so deserving of their fate. Rebels boy for this incident. Edward’s temper and size places. This magnanimity is tempered by the fact
like Simon de Montford, Dafydd ap Gruffydd would have been incredibly intimidating and that his own wars and castle building programmes
and William Wallace were all hung, drawn and during dispute with the clergy, the elderly and frail nearly brought his kingdom to financial ruin.
quartered — a horrific execution method that dean of St Paul’s was said to have died in the king’s
involved hanging the unfortunate victim until presence his temper was so great. Hero or villain?
he was almost dead, disembowelling him and Edward’s temperament was also decidedly cold
finally cutting the body into pieces. These would at times. When he heard about the death of both Heroism 3
be displayed around the kingdom as a warning to his father and young son, his grief was only evident While no doubt a brave and fearsome warrior,
others considering defying his will. towards the late Henry III. After being asked why Edward doesn’t seem to have possessed many other
The norm in European Medieval warfare was this was, he replied, “It is easy to beget sons but heroic traits.
that noblemen were not killed but rather ransomed when a man has lost a good father it is not in the Villainy 8
when captured. Edward saw an end to this by course of nature for god to send another.”
not only killing those he saw as traitors, but also 1290 saw one of Edward’s most heartless acts, Cruel, brutal and duplicitous, Edward would stop at
nothing to get his way, although he never needlessly
organising squads of men to specifically seek out the Edict of Expulsion. This called for all Jews to caused harm.
and kill nobles on the battlefield. leave his kingdom, forcing thousands to flee abroad
Edward possessed a fiery temper that could flare or practise their faith in secret. Edward’s motives legacy 8
up at any moment. Always disturbed by his son’s do appear to have been primarily financial — his Celebrated and vilified in equal measure, Edward’s
infatuation with Piers Gaveston, an outsider at court nobles would only agree to pay their taxes if he castles and kingship have left a lasting mark on Britain
raised beyond his station, Edward exploded with forced the Jews to leave. The edict was also not an that is still visible today.
anger at hearing that the man was being granted isolated incident, but the culmination of 200 years
lands in France. “You bastard son of a bitch!” he of anti-Semitic persecution in England. In fact, it Was Edward I a hero or a villain? Get in touch and let us
know what you think
raged, “Now you want to give lands away — you was welcomed by the vast majority of the country’s
who never gained any? As the lord lives, were it not population. However, Edward was the first king in Facebook Twitter © Alamy, Getty Images
for the fear of breaking up the kingdom, you should Europe to expel Jews, setting a dangerous precedent /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag
never enjoy your inheritance.” that would haunt the continent for centuries.

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