Edward I Coins

King Edward I History

Edward I, nicknamed 'Longshanks' due to his large height and tempramental demeanour, was a keen political reformer and an active military leader. In his youth he rebelled against his father, Henry III, with the land barons, but subsequently made up with King Henry in time for the Second Barons' War. During this time he was imprisoned, but escaped after a few months and eventually won the war.

Off the back of this conflict he joined up with the so-called ninth Holy Crusade, to fight in the Middle East. Edward achieved victory over the Egyptian sultan Baibars, something Louis IX of France could not, but his father's death in 1272 forced him to return home to England.

While back in England, Edward III had to deal with two rebellions from Wales - the second one in 1282 prompting him to take control of the country, establish several castles, and populate them with English citizens to help prevent further uprisings. Edward's next troubles came from Scotland and their allies France, whom he had to battle on both fronts. His ambition for claiming Scotland was curtailed by the greater need and desire to protect the duchy of Aquitaine in France - a territory that England was keen to keep.