A Plantagenet, Edward was King of England from 1272 until 1307.He was crowned on 19 Aug 1272.EDWARD I, LONGSHANKS(1272-1307 AD)Edward I, the oldest surving son of Henry III and Eleanor ofProvence, was born in 1239. He was nicknamed Longshanks due tohis great height and stature. Edward married Eleanor of Castillein 1254, who bore him sixteen children (seven of whom survivedinto adulthood) before her death in 1290. Edward reached a peacesettlement with Philip IV of France that resulted with hismarriage to the French king's sister, Margaret, who bore himthree more children.Edward I was a capable statesman, adding much to theinstitutions initiated by Henry II . In 1295, his "ModelParliament" brought together representatives from the nobility,clergy, knights of the shires, and burgesses of the cities - thefirst gathering of Lords and Commons. Feudal revenues provedinadequate in financing the bourgeoning royal courts andadministrative institutions; summoning national Parliamentsbecame the accepted forum of gaining revenue and conductingpublic business. Judicial reform included the expansion of suchcourts as the King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, and theChancery Court was established to give redress in circumstanceswhere other courts provided on solution. Edward was pious, butresisted any increase of papal authority in England.Conservators of the Peace, the forerunners of Justices of thePeace, were also established as an instituion.Foriegn policy, namely the unification of the island's othernations, occupied much of Edward's time. A major campaign tocontrol Llywelyn ap Gruffydd of Wales began in 1277, and lasteduntil Llywelyn's death in 1282. In 1301, the king's eldest sonwas created Prince of Wales, a title still held by all malehaeirs to the crown. Margaret, Maid of Norway and legitimateheir to the Scottish crown, died in 1290, leaving a disputedsuccession in Scotland . Edward was asked to arbitrate betweenthirteen different claimants. John Baliol, Edward's firstchoice, was unpopular; his next choice, William Wallace,rebelled against England until his capture and execution in1305. Robert Bruce seized the Scottish throne in 1306, later tobecome a source of consternation to Edward II Edward died en route to yet another Scottish campaign in1307.His character found accurate evaluation by Sir Richard Baker, inA Chronicle of the Kings of England : He had in him the twowisdoms, not often found in any, single; both together, seldomor never: an ability of judgement in himself, and a readiness tohear the judgement of others. He was not easily provoked intopassion, but once in passion, not easily appeased, as was seenby his dealing with the Scots; towards whom he shaowed at firstpatience, and at severity. If he be censured for his manytaxations, he may be justified by his well bestowing them; fornever prince laid out his money to more honour of himself, orgood of his kingdom. r175