Welsh revolt and Edward I’s conquest of Wales
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Edward I conquered and ruled Wales.
Key learning points
- Edward I believed he could unite England and Wales under his kingship.
- Many Welsh revolted against English law and heavy-handed rule being forced upon them.
- Edward I launched a war of conquest assisted by Llywelyn’s Welsh enemies and the Scottish Earl of Carrick.
- The Welsh revolt was defeated and Llywelyn and Dafydd ap Gruffuff were both killed.
- Edward I built castles to enforce the English conquest of Wales.
Keywords
Heavy-handed - heavy-handed is using too much force in dealing with someone
Treason - treason is to betray one’s country, government or leader
Vassal - a vassal is someone below someone else in the feudal system
Hanged, drawn and quartered - being hanged, drawn, and quartered is an execution where the person was hanged until nearly dead, cut down, disembowelled and cut into pieces
Dominate - to dominate is to have control over a place or person
Common misconception
The Welsh resistance was always a unified movement.
Many Welsh princes cooperated with Edward's Welsh campaign in 1277. Edward’s army also included 9000 Welsh soldiers.
Teacher tip
Have students design and build small models of Edward I’s castles, emphasizing their strategic locations and defensive features, to understand how they enforced the English conquest.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's title?
Q2.What did Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's do after Edward I became king of England?
Q3.Match the following key words to their definitions:
a collective name for England, Scotland and Wales
noble appointed by the English king to guard the Welsh border
to publicly submit and swear an oath of fealty
Q4.In the early tenth century, the Anglo-Saxon King Athelstan had used the title ‘Rex Totius Britanniae’, or ‘King of all ’ on his coins.
Q5.What was the outcome of Edward I's first campaign in Wales?
Q6.Edward I stopped the Welsh army from being able to access its main supply of food. What was the food and where in Wales did it come from?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What did Edward I believe about the relationship between England and Wales?
Q2.Which of these individuals or groups assisted Edward I in his war of conquest against the Welsh revolt of 1282?
Q3.Match the following words to the correct definitions.
using too much force in dealing with someone
to betray one’s country, government or leader
to have control over a place or person
Q4.Starting with the earliest, place these events in time order:
Q5.Which statement most closely describes Welsh support for Edward I?
Q6.Seeing that the revolt had spread across Wales, Edward decided to launch a war of conquest. Instead of ruling through as overlord, he wanted direct control over Wales - to be the King of Wales.
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Welsh revolt and Edward I’s conquest of Wales, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Welsh revolt and Edward I’s conquest of Wales, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Edward I: What stopped Edward uniting all of Britain? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.