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Season 2024 – Talk 13 – Edward I
In ‘Edward I’ Peter Duffy tells us about the King who ruled from 1272 to 1307.
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History repeating itself?
Imagine another England long ago, but one that you recognise. A time with many parallels to the present day. The Welsh and the Scots are revolting. The government is desperately short of money and is looking at new ways to raise even more taxes.
There’s an institution supposedly dedicated to wellbeing. In this case, it’s the church, not the NHS, that sucks in more and more resources.
Society, and the political world are deeply divided. Government is weak and feeble with poor leadership. There are problems with Europe and serious threats in the Middle East.
Edward I:
But at the moment of England’s desperation, when all is dark and appears lost, salvation appears. Edward I, commonly known as Edward Long Shanks because his considerable height, the Hammer of the Scots and the Welsh.
He reorganises the state machinery and constitution, making it more effective and representative.
Edward limits the church’s ambitions and is a strong, magnetic leader. He’s a diplomat, a peacemaker in Europe, but defender of England’s interests against the French. A crusader against the Muslim invasion of the Holy Land.
What’s not to like?
A weak father and grandfather:
Edward, born in 1239, is the son of Henry III and the grandson of King John. Henry is a pious, but ineffective, ruler with a reverence for Edward the Confessor. He rebuilds Westminster Abbey, starting in 1245, on the site of the church built by Edward the Confessor.
The young Edward is knighted and marries at the age of 15 to Eleanor of Castile. King John and Henry III have, by this time, lost virtually all the lands held in France by Henry II.
Edward’s marriage is to pre-empt the loss of further land. It becomes a marriage of mutual affection. In 1270 she accompanies Edward on a Crusade, a highly risky venture. When she dies Edward builds memorials at the 12 places where her body rests each night as it travels to London.
Today only three remain. The final one was at Charing Cross. Today it is marked by a replacement memorial.
Listen to Peter tell us the full story of this king.
About this podcast:
This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Group.
This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Podchaser, Spotify, YouTube and others.
AKM Music licenses Media Magazine for use with this talk.
© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham u3a World History: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Group 2018 – 2026