General Notes

Nickname:<NICK> Longshanks
Edward I., Plantaganet, Longshanks, Earl of Chester, King of England (1272-1307), the third son of Henry III and his
wife Eleanor, was born at Westminster on June 17, 1239 and during the reign of his father took active part in political
affairs. He was the Earl of Chester. He was taken prisoner at Lewes in 1264 but escaping, he defeated the Earl of
Leicester. In 1272 he went on a Crusade as far as Acre, where his daughter Joan was born, and although he inherited the
crown that year, he did not return to England until 1274, being crowned on August 19, 1274. It is significant of the times
that he was able to thus move in a leisurely fashion across Europe without fear of disturbances at home.

He fully accepted those articles of The Great Charter (Magna Charta) of King John which had been set aside at the
beginning of his father's reign, and which required that the king should levy scutages and aids only with the consent of the
Great Council or Parliament. The further requirement of the barons that they should name the ministers of the crown was
allowed to fall into disuse. Edward was a capable ruler, and knew how to appoint better ministers than the barons were
likely to choose for him. He was eminent not only as a ruler but as a legislator and succeeded in enacting many wise laws,
because he knew that useful legislation is possible only when the legislator has an intelligent perception of the remedies
needed to meet existing evils, and is willing to content himself with such remedies as those persons who are to be benefited
by them are ready to accept. The first condition was fulfilled by Edward's own skill as a lawyer, and by the skill of the great
lawyers whom he employed. The second condition was fulfilled by his determination to authorize no new legislation without
the counsel and acquiescence of those who were most affected by it. Not until late in his reign did he call a whole
parliament together as Earl Simon de Montfort had done. Instead, he called the barons together in any manner which
affected the barons, and the representatives of the townsmen together in any manner which affected the townsmen, and so
with other classes. In 1295 he summoned the "Model Parliament," so called because it became the form for future
Parliaments.

Every king of England since the Norman Conquest had exercised authority in a twofold capacity: (1) as head of the nation
and (2) as the feudal lord of his vassals. Edward laid more stress than any former king upon his national headship. Early in
his reign he divided the Curis Regis into three courts: (1) The Court of King's Bench, to deal with criminal offenses reserved
for the king's judgment and with suits in which he was himself concerned; (2) The Court of Exchequer, to deal with all
matters touching the king's revenue; and (3) The Court of Common Pleas, to deal with suits between subject and subject.
Edward took care that these Courts should administer justice, and dismissed judges and many other officials for
corruption. In 1285 he improved the Assize of Arms of King Henry II., to assure national support for his government in time
of danger. His favorite motto "Keep Troth" indicates the value he placed upon a man's oath.

Edward I. married in 1254 (1) Eleanor of Castile, daughter of Ferdinand III, King of Castile and Leon, and his wife Jeanne of
Dammartin, who was the daughter of Simon Dammartin and his wife, Marie, Countess of Ponthieu, and on her death in 1279
that country came by descent to Eleanor. Jeanne of Dammartin died on November 20, 1290. Her body was brought for
burial from Lincoln to Westminster, and the bereaved husband ordered the erection of a memorial cross at each place
where the body rested. The years that followed were filled with wars with France and with difficulties in Scotland. Edward
married September 8, 1299 (2) Margaret of France, daughter of Philip III., King of France. King Edward died, during the