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Year 7

Edward I’s first campaign in Wales

I can explain why Edward I launched a campaign in Wales in 1277.

New
New
Year 7

Edward I’s first campaign in Wales

I can explain why Edward I launched a campaign in Wales in 1277.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Edward I wanted to be overlord of all Britain.
  2. Wales was divided between Welsh princes, the Marcher lords and the English king.
  3. Llywelyn ap Gruffudd conquered two-thirds of Wales and was known as the Prince of Wales.
  4. Llywelyn refused to renew his homage to Edward I.
  5. Edward I defeated the Welsh princes and Llewellyn finally paid homage in 1278.

Keywords

  • Overlord - overlord is the lord ranking above other lords in the feudal system, they ruled through their vassals, rather than direct rule

  • Britain - Britain is the name for England, Scotland, and Wales

  • Conquest - conquest is to take control of foreign land by force

  • Marcher - a Marcher lord was a noble appointed by the king of England to guard the border (known as the Welsh Marches) between England and Wales

  • Homage - paying homage is to publicly submit and swear an oath of fealty to someone above you in the feudal system

Common misconception

Britain and England are terms which describe the same area.

Britain is the name for England, Scotland, and Wales.

Organise a mock trial of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, where students debate whether he should pay homage to Edward I.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What challenge did Edward I face once he was king?
reducing the power of parliament
reducing the level of wealth in England
Correct answer: uniting England after a civil war
starting a civil war against his barons
Q2.
Why did parliament agree to grant a tax in 1290?
Correct answer: in exchange for the expulsion of Jewish people
it was used to fund public works
it was used to support the Church
Q3.
Match the following words to their correct definitions.
Correct Answer:just ,fair or morally correct

fair or morally correct

Correct Answer:antisemitism ,hatred or cruel treatment directed at Jewish people

hatred or cruel treatment directed at Jewish people

Correct Answer:knightly class ,the group of landholders beneath the barons

the group of landholders beneath the barons

Q4.
Edward I was also known to his followers as , due to his long legs.
Correct Answer: Longshanks, longshanks, long-shanks, long shanks, Long Shanks
Q5.
Which of these did Edward I achieve?
He abolished the knightly class.
Correct answer: He avoided a civil war during his reign.
He conquered France during his reign.
Q6.
Which of these did Edward state about law-making?
“Justice is the will of the king.”
“The king's word is the people's command.”
Correct answer: “What touches all, should be approved by all.”

6 Questions

Q1.
Edward was King of England but what title did he want to have for all of Britain?
king
Correct answer: overlord
vassal
Q2.
How was power divided in Wales during the 13th century?
between Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and the Anglo-Saxon kings
between the Normans and the Saxons
Correct answer: between the Welsh princes, Marcher lords and the English king
Q3.
Which term best matches the definition 'to take control of foreign land by force'?
Correct answer: conquest
homage
Marcher
overlord
Q4.
Starting with the earliest, place these events in time order.
1 - Llywelyn ap Gruffudd conquers two-thirds of Wales
2 - Llywelyn refuses to pay homage to Edward I
3 - Edward I assembles a large army against Wales
Q5.
To become 'Rex totius Britanniae', King of all Britain, which of these countries did Edward I need to become king of?
Correct answer: England
Ireland
Correct answer: Scotland
Correct answer: Wales
Q6.
In 1277, Edward assembled the biggest army Wales had ever seen: 800 knights and 15 000 soldiers including 9000 Welsh rivals of Prince ap Gruffudd.
Correct Answer: Llywelyn, llywelyn, Llewelyn, Llewellyn

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