Customer Reviews

Welsh Wars Of Edward I (Medieval Military Library)

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Braveheart made Edward the Longshanks known around the world. He was one of the most ruthless kings ever to sit on the throne of England. He was vicious, almost careless in the lives he spent in his various wars, but he was also a brilliant legal mind that forged the foundations of the legal system England and US has today. Most of all he was determined to do what his grandfather, King John failed to do, win back all the lands lost of France and all powers to the barons when John signed the Magna Carta. As well, he was determined to end the abuses tolerated by his weak father concerning the Marcher Barons of Wales.

Edward fought long wars with the Scotland, his own nobles, Ireland, France and the Welsh. And though, I am sure many believe Scotland was him prime focus, it was really secondary to his controlling Wales. When Edward came to the throne in 1272, he was a warrior-prince tested, and he carried that into being a warrior-king.

The borders of Wales - the Marches - were always a trouble, so Norman barons had been set to garrisoning it, control it. Instead, of bringing peace to England, so far from England, they began to challenge the crown's authority, carrying on their private wars and fermenting rebellion to the very authority they were set to protect.

When Edward determined to once and for all break the spine of Wales, he was facing fighting his own barons as much as the determined Welsh. The great castles that Edward ringed Wales with, to strangle it into control, still stand today as a reminder of the vast power this King wielded.

Morris really gives a super work, detailed, fascinating, a dynamic portrait of England, Scotland and Wales during the 13th Century. He draws heavily on medieval documents of the period, a wealth of information on raids, the castles and Edward's "scorched earth" policy. He lists the nobles, social rankings and down to the weapons used in war, such as Edward's great siege engines. He compares tactics of Edward struggle to control Wales, but also the impact these events had on Scotland, Ireland and Gascony.

A very thorough work, presented in an readable interesting manner. Highly recommended - especially to writers of the period.

This is a brilliant example of good scholarship. The book is impeccably researched. Of course there are conclusions that are open to debate, but it is difficult to find an area where you could fault the writer's logic. This is the standard work on a very complex subject, and will likely remain so. If only every historian was so objective and paid so much attention to detail, think of how much we would discover. Maybe I'm being too naive.

I am very much the history buff and interested in the minutaie in the study of history. I still had to read this thoroughly researched work in stages due to the large amount of information, especially statistics, presented in such a small amount of space. Going to the original rolls from Edward's accounts, and others, Morris pieces together army size, type, function, and heirarchy of the army, barons, and king. It is a fascinating work, but expect to spend the time digesting it. Not for the beginner on the topic.

My son was doing a project on the Welsh Castles of Edward I. This book was the right book for understanding the Welsh conflicts that led King Edward to establish his castles. The book came in plenty of time to be useful, and it arrived in good condition. Thank you for having this in stock.