Description
Book SynopsisExciting fresh perspectives on Edward I as man, king and administrator. The reign of Edward I was one of the most important of medieval England, but the king's activities and achievements have not always received the full attention they deserve. The essays collected here offer fresh insights into Edward's own personality as well as developments in law, governance, war and culture. Edward the man emerges in chapters on his early life, his piety and his family, while the administrator king is discussed in evaluations of his twogreat ministers, his handling of the crucial issue of law and order and the way he managed the realm from abroad through his correspondence. Edward's nobles, both in England and Scotland, naturally appear as vital to understanding the reign, while his rule is set in a British and European context. Overall, the book aims to move the debate on the reign beyond K.B. McFarlane's hugely influential judgement that "Edward I preferred masterfulness to the arts of political management", by highlighting his skills -- and failings -- as a politician and manager.
Trade ReviewThe nine essays collected here offer fresh perspectives on Edward I and showcase emerging scholars' work after the retirement of the Michael Prestwich-J. R. Maddicott-D. A. Carpenter generation. [...] Well argued and convincing. -- PARERGON
[A] valuable addition to undergraduate reading lists, and genuinely thought-provoking for those who already know the field well. -- SPECULUM
Table of ContentsIntroduction - Andy King and Andrew Spencer The Lord Edward and the Administration of Justice across his Apanage, 1254-72 - Rodolphe Billaud A Tale of Two Ministers: Robert Burnell, Walter Langton and the Government of Edward I - Richard Huscroft Law and Order in the Reign of Edward I: Some New Thoughts - Caroline Burt Magnates, Ritual and Commensality at Royal Assemblies: Bogo de Clare and Edward I's Easter Parliament, 1285 - Lars Kjaer Royal Daughters and Diplomacy at the Court of Edward I - Louise J. Wilkinson Hearts and Bodies: Edward I and the Scottish Magnates 1296-1307 - Michael H Brown Edward I and the Blessed Virgin Mary - Charles Farris Letters and Political Discourse under Edward I - Kathleen B. Neal Crisis? What Crisis? 1297 and the Civil War that Never Was - Andy King
