In 1284, the Principality of Wales was incorporated into the Kingdom of England, in accordance with the Statute of Rhuddlan. English law was introduced for the trying of criminal cases, while the Welsh were allowed to retain their traditional laws for the trying of civil matters. Edward also embarked on the full-scale English settlement of Wales, founding a number of new towns such as Flint, Aberwystwy and Rhuddlan.
Edward also undertook a large-scale castle building program and introduced a number of innovations to European castle construction, including the wide-spread use of arrow slits. Many of Edward’s castles also adopted a concentric lay-out, which was copied from Muslim fortresses in the Holy Land. In 1284, Edward’s son, who would later rule England as Edward II, was born in Wales at Caernarfon Castle. In 1301, Edward II became the first English prince to be formally invested with the title, Prince of Wales, while staying at Caernarfon Castle.
Foreign Policy During the Reign of Edward Longshanks
Following his return from the Ninth Crusade, in 1274, Edward never went on Crusade again, even though he maintained his intent to do so. This intent guided much of Edward’s foreign policy until 1291. In order to stage a Pan-European Crusade, it was essential to maintain peace among Europe’s major royal houses.
A major obstacle for a new Crusade in the Holy Land was the War of the Sicilian Vespers in 1282. The citizens of Palermo had rebelled against Charles of Anjou and turned to Peter of Aragon for assistance. Peter responded by taking Charles’ son, Peter of Salerno, captive. In doing so, the Aragonese raised the prospect of a large scale European war. Edward believed that such a war was to be avoided at all costs. To that end, Edward travelled to Paris in 1286, where he brokered a peace treaty between France and Aragon, securing the release of Peter of Salerno. However, as far as the Crusades were concerned, Edward’s efforts proved to be ineffective. In 1291 Acre fell the Muslims.
In the aftermath of the fall of Acre, Edward became more antagonistic. In 1278, he assigned to of his most trusted advisors, Otto de Grandson and Chancellor Robert Burnell to investigate the goings-on in Gascony, which led to the dismissal of Luke de Tany as Edward’s agent. The continual problem with Gascony was its status within the Kingdom of France. When Edward had travelled to Paris on his diplomatic mission in 1282, he had paid homage to France’s new king, Philip IV. In 1294, Philip declared Gascony forfeit when Edward refused to meet with him to discuss the conflict between English, French and Gascon sailors that had resulted in the sacking of La Rochelle.
During the 1280s, the relationship between England and Scotland was one of peaceful co-existence. The question of homage was not as controversial in Scotland as it was in Wales or France. Alexander III, the King of Scotland, paid homage to Edward, by only for the lands he held in England. However, the situation changed following the death of Alexander in 1286. Alexander had been predeceased by three of his children between 1281 and 1284. His only heir was a three year old granddaughter, Margaret, who had been born to Alexander’s daughter, Margaret, and Eric II, the King of Norway.
The Great Cause
When Margaret was seven she left Norway for Scotland in the autumn of 1296. However, she fell ill during the voyage and died at Orkney. Scotland was now faced with a major crisis. Up to 14 claimants came forward to claim the Scottish crown during Scotland’s succession crisis, which became known as the Great Cause; however the real contest for the throne was between John Balliol and Robert the Bruce. The Scottish nobility asked Edward the mediate the dispute. Before he would consider doing so, Edward wanted to be recognized as Scotland’s feudal overlord. The Scottish nobles were unwilling to agree to Edward’s demand. The problem was eventually side-stepped by allowing Edward to rule until a new king was found. John Balliol was eventually crowned King of Scotland on November 17, 1292.
However, even after Balliol assumed the Scottish throne, Edward continued to assert English dominance over Scotland, hearing appeals to cases that had been tried in Scottish courts. He also demanded that John appear before the English Parliament in relation to a case brought by Macduff, the son of the Earl of Fife.
Edward also demanded that the Scottish nobles provide military service for Edward’s war with France, over Gascony. The Scots formed an alliance with the French and launched an unsuccessful attack on Carlisle, in north-west England. In 1296, Edward invaded Scotland, attacking the town of Berwick. Scottish resistance to English rule was effectively crushed at the Battle of Dunbar. Afterward, Edward confiscated the Scottish coronation stone, the Stone of Destiny, taking it back to Westminster Abbey. Edward also toppled John Balliol and imprisoned him in the Tower of London. Edward’s initial campaign in Scotland was successful, but peace would prove to be temporary.
Sources
Morris, Marc (2008). A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain (updated ed.). London: Hutchinson.
Raban, Sandra (2000). England under Edward I and Edward II. Oxford: Blackwell.
Riley-Smith, Jonathan (2005). The Crusades: A History. London: Continuum
Watson, Fiona J. (1998). Under the Hammer: Edward I and the Throne of Scotland, 1286-1307. East Linton: Tuckwell Press
Terry Long - I hold degrees in history and journalism. In addition to my contributions to Suite 101, I have also written for the Brampton Bulletin, the ...
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