Elizabeth de Montfort [BaronessMontagu
NSFX [BaronessMontagu
AFN 9FSF-LK
DATE 10 JUN 1999
TIME 11:31:17
AFN FBVQ-HF
DATE 10 JUN 1999
TIME 11:31:27
Edward I Longshanks King of England
AFN 8WKN-4B
King: Nov. 20, 1272 - July 7, 1307.
"In build he was handsome and of great stature, towering head and shoulders above the average.....His brow was broad, and the rest of his face regular, though a drooping of the left eyelid recalled
his father's expression. He spoke with a stammer (or lisp), but did not lack a ready power of persuasion in argument." (Nicholas Trevet, "Annals of Six Kings of England", in The Oxford Illustrated
History of the British Monarchy, by J. Cannon & R. Griffiths, 1988)
".....tall of stature, higher than ordinary men by head and shoulders, and therefore called longshanks; of a swarthy complexion, strong of body but lean.. ...his eyes in anger sparkling like fire.
The hair of his head black and curled." Sir Richard Baker. (Majesty magazine; Nov. 1985)
He was 6 feet 2 inches tall.
He was an autocratic, short-tempered man who was intolerant of criticism, and he could be cruel and violent even towards his children. Yet he had a great talent for leadership, fearlessness and
energy, and vision. He reformed royal government and developed the common law. (The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, by J. Cannon & R. Griffiths, 1988)
In the Barons War (1264-1267), he defeated the Baron at Evesham (1265). As King, he is noted for encouraging Parliamentary institutions at the expense of feudalism and for subduing Wales on which he
imposed the English system of administration. He later tried to assert his authority over Scotland and died while on his way to fight Robert Bruce. (Internet)
He was a devotee of the crusade, going to Egypt and Syria in 1270 for 4 years.
(The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, by J. Cannon & R. Griffiths, 1988)
He once filled a boat with gingerbread, sugar loaves, figs and raisins. The boat was to fetch a 6-year-old bride from Norway to marry his eldest son. (Majesty magazine)
He grieved more at the loss of his father than at the death of his young son. He said there could always be other sons -- but never another father. (Majesty magazine; July 1984)
Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd, was begun by King Edward I in 1283 after the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales. It was designed to help ensure the conquest of Llywelyn's principality. (The
Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, by J. Cannon & R. Griffiths, 1988)
Edward was so moved by the death, in 1290, of his first wife, Eleanor of Castile, that he ordered that the route followed by the cortege bringing her body from Nottinghamshire, where she died, to
Westminster, where she was buried, should be marked by a succession of "Eleanor Crosses" that are among the most notable examples of royal architectural patronage in the Gothic age. (The Oxford
Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, by J. Cannon & R. Griffiths, 1988)
He died of dysentery and bowel hemmorhage at 68 years old. (Brown, via Internet)
"Hammer of the Scots" was inscribed on his tomb. (The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, by J. Cannon & R. Griffiths, 1988)
DATE 14 OCT 1999
TIME 16:46:01