Edward I

    Edward I (1239 - 1307), nicknamed Longshanks was the English King of Plantagenet dynasty. He was known as a commander, legislator and administrator. Edward was a son of Henry III. First steps in governing activity he undertook when his father gave him some of his counties and Ireland. Moreover after the marriage he also received a French province. But first his thoughts were only about Knights tournaments and not about the governing. But a movement of barons which desired to limit the authority of the King, forced Edward to interfere actively in the politics. First he decided to join the movement but later he repented of it. His father Henry III forgave him and sent to France, to his province. In three years Edward returned to England and in the struggle with barons and London Army he was one of the commanders in the Royal Army. It was his thirsty for revenge when he followed the Londoners that led the army to the defeat and resulted in the capture of Edward himself and his father. A year later Edward managed to escape, he stood at the head of the King's supporters. He conquered his adversary and set Henry III free. But the latter was so much weakened and demoralized that he gave the power to Edward. Edward's desire to revenge the rebels nearly stopped the peace movement inside the country, but after issuing the softened resolutions concerning the insurgents and after the statute of Marlboro, meeting some of their requirements, reconciliation finally started. Later Edward vowed to join the crusaders, but lack of money prevented him from it. When he found money and went to Palestine Henry III, his father died and gave the throne to Edward.
    Being already the King of England Edward decided to reestablish the traditional authority of the Kingdom and to provide the order and safety, having introduced the reform of the Royal Ruling implementation. He issued a number of legislative statutes, which aimed at strengthening the State, extirpating abuses and improving the system of justice. The body of these statues implementation was the Parliament. Here the King himself, his dignitaries, highest hierarchs of the Church and barons were to participate and make up decisions. As a result of reformation politics such meetings became regular and typical for the social life of England. The fact that Edward lacked money, and consequently it was necessary to introduce some new taxes, forced him to make the Parliament more variaged, thus Edward introduced representatives of different counties and ordinary clergies.
    Meanwhile Edward had to fight in France to keep his authority in the province. As a result of the war and diplomatic efforts the status of this province was kept. In the period of 1289-1307 Edward got an idea to conquer Scotland as well. First he wanted to give his son into marriage with heiress of Scotland but after that he decided to overcome this land by means of direct capture. But Scotchmen resisted his attacks. So, going to another attack of Scotland Edward died. His governing finished in atmosphere of complete failure. But during the years of Edwards regime his authority in England and Europe was high. Edward managed to restore the position of the monarchy and influenced the formation of English institutes and social system of the country.