Domestic and Foreign Policy Under England’s Edward I (1272-1307)

Abstract

This paper examines the policy of the king Edward I (1272-1307) and his role in governing England and the power struggles during that time between him and his German cousin Henry. Edward I was a strong-willed ambitious man, as he gained extensive experience from political and parliamentary developments during his father's time. As King Edward I is interested in strengthening parliamentary rule in order to alleviate the burden of war between him and France and Scotland as well as his attempts to annex Wales to his kingdom, He seemed to want to make provincial and town deputies a rival to the clergy and the top barons in Parliament that sparked the war with them, what he termed the Barons' War. Having demonstrated a significant contribution to the king's assistance in meeting their war expenses, local landlords became economically and politically involved in the formation of the medieval English monarchy. Barons, landlords, and earls pushed for a pro-parliamentary movement in order to counter the anti-feudal spirit commonly prevalent at that time. The king highlighted his work, his achievements, his domestic and foreign policy, and the main consequences of his reign.