17 June, 1239

King Edward belonged to the Plantagenet dynasty. He followed his father King Henry III and was succeded by his son, King Edward II and his grandson, King Edward III

King of England, King of Wales, King of Man, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Gascony, Earl of Chester

Also regarded himself as sovereign lord of the kings of Scotland

Length of reign:

34 years and 8 months between November 1272 and July 1307

Edward married twice in the course of his life. He first wife was Eleanor of Castile, but she died in 1290. In 1299 he married Margaret, daughter of the French king, Philippe III. His marriages produced many children. His eldest son, also named Edward, succeded him in 1307 as King Edward II 

Edward I is one of the greatest kings in English history. Known as the 'Hammer of the Scots', 'the Lawgiver' and 'the Father of the Mother of Parliaments', his achievements were many and his legend is great.

His father, King Henry III, was one of the longest reigning monarchs in English history (he was king for 56 years). This meant that Edward had time to prepare for his inheritance and also had a chance to observe how the kingdom was run. There were also tough times. England was thrown into a civil war and at one point Edward was taken captive by Simon de Montfort. He escaped and ultimately defeated de Montfort at the famous battle of Evesham in August 1265. So even before coming to the throne, he had proved himself as an strong soldier and able commander. He also went on Crusade to the Holy Land; it was while away that he heard the news of his father's death.

Edward returned to England in August 1274 at the age of 35, almost two years after the death of King Henry III. His main achievements as king centred around the administrative improvements in the kingdom and the imposition of English rule upon Wales and Scotland.

Having defeated the Welsh princes Llywelyn and Dafydd, the Statute of Wales was enacted in 1284, bringing the country under the control of the English government. Edward's eldest son was created Prince of Wales in 1301, thus starting a tradition which continues through to today, of creating the eldest son of the monarch 'Prince of Wales' (just like Prince Charles, as eldest son of The Queen is The Prince of Wales).

Edward also sought to have a strong presence in Scotland. Having been consulted by the Scottish nobles to choose their next king, Edward suggested John Balliol and then set out to control him. When Balliol eventually rebelled, Edward sent forces north and captured key individuals and strongpoints including Edinburgh Castle. Edward also took the Stone of Scone (or Stone of Destiny) on which Scottish sovereigns were crowned, and placed it under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey in London. Edward's successes in Scotland were briefly undermined by William Wallace, but Edward triumphed in battle in 1298 at Falkirk and Wallace was executed some years later.

In terms of administration of the kingdom, Edward was also a notable ruler. He asked for a thorough survey of the workings of local government, defining royal rights and possessions, but also finding any problems or abuses that were happening in the country. The 1275 Statute of Westminster codified the laws of the country (actually wrote them down and explained them), while he enacted other reforms into the legal, land and justice systems. Parliament began to be summoned on a regular basis. The Model Parliament of 1295 was the highlight of this policy, as it was perhaps the most representative assembly ever called to that point, firmly establishing Parliament as a force in the government of the kingdom.

He was able to work successfully with the nobles and clergy to produce enough money to finance his campaigns and it is tribute to his character that even when threatened from Wales, Scotland and France at the same time, he was able to raise money, raise armies and meet the resistance with general success.

Although Edward's campaigns were largely successful, he did leave Scotland still unconquered and died on his way to counter another rebellion in the north. His campaigns in northern France were also strained, though ultimately successful.

Edward also had difficulty with raising money to finance campaigns in Wales, Scotland and France and often met opposition to high taxation. The Archbishop of Canterbury threatened to resign at one point due to Edward's demands on the clergy to pay their share. As a result the king was forced to reconfirm the rights and Charters granted to the nobility.

From a personal standpoint, Edward was shattered when his first wife, Eleanor of Castile, died in 1290.

When Eleanor of Castile died, Edward ordered that her body be carried from Lincoln (where she died) to London and that every resting place on the journey should be marked by a cross. There were twelve in all. The most famous are probably Waltham Cross and Charing Cross, both in London.