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Edward I (1239-1307), surnamed "Longshanks," king of England. He reigned 1272-1307. He was born at Westminister and died near Carlyle. He was the son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. He married Eleanor of Castile. While a young man, Edward assisted his father in curbing the power of the barons, overthrowing their leader, Simon de Montfort, at Evesham in 1265. At the request of the pope Edward took a prominent part in the Seventh Crusade. He captured Nazareth from the Turks, and massacred the inhabitants. In revenge for this cruelty, it is thought, an assassin stabbed him in three places with a poisoned arrow. Owing to a magnificent constitution he came through with his life. A story runs to the effect that Eleanor saved him by sucking out the poison with her lips.

On hearing of the death of his father Edward returned home to be crowned. He was an active, arbitrary ruler. He accomplished the conquest of Wales. He took measures to expel the Jews from England. He interfered in the affairs of Scotland, placed Baliol on the throne and again deposed him, carrying the ancient coronation stone of Scotland to Westminster, where it yet remains. He executed Sir William Wallace and died on his way to Scotland to suppress Bruce.

Though the name of Edward I is not a source of pleasure to the Welsh and to the Scotch, he was a royal English monarch--a very prince of men to his own people. His soldiers heard him urge clemency for the followers of Montfort. They saw him weep in bitter grief for the death of his father, though it placed him on the throne of England. He lay with his soldiers on the ground and suffered both hunger and thirst in the mountains of Wales and on the Scottish border. Under all circumstances he was an Englishman and a soldier, a hard master, but a loyal, singleminded prince-one who loved his people and was loved by them. Edward was "unselfish, laborious, conscientious, haughtily observant of truth and self-respect, temperate, reverent of duty and religious. For the most part," continues Green, the historian, "his impulses were generous, trustful, averse from cruelty, prone to forgiveness". "No man ever asked mercy of me," said he in his old age, "and was refused." Those who read the fate of Wallace, sent to a felon's death by Edward, need to know that this haughty king is the same English Edward who loved his Eleanor while living, and ceased not to love her when dead; and that this is the same Edward who reared a cross at Charing, and wherever else the bier of Eleanor rested on the way to the grave.

Edward deserves well at the hand of the historian. He reorganized the courts of England in the interest of speedy and impartial justice. He equalized the burden of taxation and of military service. He was the first English monarch to summon merchants and burghers to sit in Parliament. In person he was a tall, deep-chested, long-limbed man. The people called him Longshanks. He instituted legal reforms; the jurists call him the "English Justinian." Soldier, lover, and lawgiver, Edward was the greatest of the Plantagenets.

Edward II (1284-1327), king of England. He was the son of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile. He was born at Caernarvon Castle, Wales, and in 1301 was given the title "Prince of Wales," then extinct by the death in battle of the last Welsh prince. He was the first of the English princes to bear this name. Edward II resembled the pleasure-loving Stuarts more than he did his martial father. He was governed by an insolent and unworthy favorite, Piers Gaveston, whom, indeed, Edward's barons executed. This is the "Proud Edward" who in 1314, invaded Scotland at the head of a large force and was defeated ignominiously by Robert Bruce at Bannockburn. Edward was unfortunate in family affairs. Queen Isabella, sent on a mission to France, entered into a traitorous, not to say criminal, intrigue with Roger Mortimer, a disaffected young baron, and returned to England at the head of an armed force. The conspirators seized the Tower of London and took Edward prisoner. A Parliament, completely under their influence, deposed Edward and placed his son, a mere boy, on the throne. A few months later, Edward was sent from the Tower to Kenilworth Castle and later to Berkeley Castle, where he was assassinated by two ruffians in the pay of Mortimer.

Edward III (1312-1377), king of England. He was born at Windsor and died at Richmond. As stated, he was placed on his father's throne in 1327, at the age of fifteen. During his minority the kingdom was ruled ostensibly by a regency of twelve lords. In reality authority was usurped by the guilty Isabella and her partner, Mortimer. In 1330 Edward III, now eighteen years of age, took matters into his own hands. He broke into the strong castle of Nottingham, where Isabella and Mortimer were, and dragged Mortimer to the Tower. Mortimer was brought before the Parliament and charged with the murder of Edward II. He was found guilty and was hanged on an elm at Tyburn. Edward could not be expected to take severe measures against his mother. She was sent into retirement, in reality into hopeless captivity, where she was visited once a year by her son, the king.

Edward's reign was noted for wars. He engaged in a desperate attempt to subjugate Scotland. He set up a claim to the French throne. He added "King of France" to his title, a practice maintained by British sovereigns until 1802. Edward thus entered upon a long series of conflicts with France, known as the "Hundred Years' War." No little success followed the banner of England; yet, before the close of Edward's reign, nearly all the conquered territory was lost again.

During this reign great changes came to the common people. The Black Death, the greatest plague that ever visited the country, swept away half of the peasants. Laborers were scarce, wages rose. A system of practical serfdom came to an end. It was impossible in some sections to get help to gather the harvest. At the entreaty of landowners Parliament passed an act, called the Statute of Laborers, which reestablished the old prices of labor, and compelled laboring men to seek employment within their own parishes. This led in the next reign to what is known as the Peasants' Rising of 1381.

Ever since the Norman Conquest Latin had been the language of business and official correspondence. French was the language of society and of light literature. The peasantry held to the old Anglo-Saxon or English language. During Edward's reign this language began to crowd Latin and French to the wall. The writings of Wyclif gave a powerful impulse to the rise of English. Toward the close of Edward's reign the English language replaced the French language in the schools. In 1357 a statute was passed requiring the use of English in courts of justice.

A very great change took place also in the Houses of Parliament. The war with France was expensive. It was necessary to ask Parliament for large grants of money. The House of Commons established the principle that redress of grievances must precede a grant of supplies. The Good Parliament, established in 1376, impeached Edward's ministers, establishing much the same method of procedure now followed in English-speaking countries.

See Baliol; Crecy; Poitiers; The Black Prince; Black Death; Wyclif; Lollards; Impeachment

Edward IV (1441-1483), king of England. He was born at Rouen, France. Edward IV ascended the throne in 1461. His accession and the earlier events of his reign are but episodes in the famous Wars of the Roses. Edward was the second son of Richard, Duke of York. By the death of his father, at the battle of Wakefield in 1460, Edward became the head of the Yorkists. On hearing of his father's death he gathered together a combined army of Welsh and English and won a victory over the Lancastrians at Mortimer's Cross. A few days later the Lancastrians were victorious at St. Albans, but, while they lingered here plundering, Edward set out for London on horseback. He was a handsome, popular prince. The Yorkists hailed him with acclaim and, in the absence of the Lancastrian king, Henry III, proclaimed him sovereign.

The story of the struggle between the Yorkists and Lancastrians is unprofitable reading. Warwick, the king-maker, had no sooner placed Edward on the throne, than he became offended because the king concluded a marriage with Elizabeth Grey, instead of espousing the sister of Louis XI of France. Warwick fomented an insurrection and fled to France; yet returned, drove Edward into exile in Holland, and replaced the last Lancastrian Henry on the throne. To cut these wearisome details short, Edward returned, defeated the force of Henry and Warwick, the latter falling in battle at Barnet, April 14, 1471. A few weeks later Edward defeated the forces of Queen Margaret at Tewkesbury. Henry died in the Tower, and Edward's reign was secure.

During Edward's reign popular government went backward. A favorite invention of his was a system of "benevolences." This was a gift of money which he requested from rich subjects, and which they were afraid to refuse. This system of benevlences rendered the king in a measure independent of Parliament. The power of that body was correspondingly diminished.

See Warwick; Wars Of The Roses

Edward V (1470-1483), king of England. He was born at Westminster Abbey. He was the heir of Edward IV, but Edward V was little more than twelve years old at the time of his father's death. His uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the same who is known in history as Richard III, appointed himself guardian of the young king. A servile Parliament proclaimed him Protector of the Realm. The wicked duke secured the execution of such noblemen as stood in his way. He then called a meeting of Parliament, and secured the passage of an act declaring the marriage of Edward IV to the mother of the young king illegal. Richard then sent Edward V and his younger brother to the Tower, where they were murdered. Brackenbury, the constable of the Tower, refused to obey Richard when ordered to put the two princes to death; but Sir James Tyrrel, an infamous noble, armed with a warrant ordering the constable to give him the keys, admitted two assassins, who smothered the princes under pillows while they were asleep. Shakespeare has made much of the murder in his play, Richard III.

Edward VI (1537-1553), king of England. He was born at Hampton Court and died at Greenwich. This prince was the son of Henry VIII and his third queen, Jane Seymour. He succeeded to the throne in 1547. His reign was but nominal. The affairs of the kingdom were managed by a regency under the Duke of Somerset and later the Duke of Northumberland. Edward was betrothed to Mary, Queen of Scots, but Mary was spirited off to France by Scottish noblemen who rendered the marriage impossible. The Book of Common Prayer was prepared, chiefly by Archbishop Cranmer, during this reign. Edward died of consumption. He was constrained by certain noblemen to leave a will bequeathing the crown to Lady Jane Grey, but he was succeeded by his half sister, Mary, whose title to the throne was unquestionable.

Edward VII (1841-1910), king of Great Britain and Ireland. He was also styled Emperor of India. He was the first son, the second child, of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort, Albert of Saxe-Coburg. He was born at Buckingham Palace, November 9, 1841. At the age of fourteen he was made Prince of Wales. His education was supervised by competent private instructors. He also took lectures at Oxford, Cambridge, and Edinburgh. He was quite a traveler. In 1860 he visited Canada and the United States. In 1862 he visited Egypt, Palestine, and Athens. His traveling companion was Arthur Stanley, later Dean of Westminster Abbey. In 1875 he visited India, and in 1885 paid a visit to Ireland. He came to the throne at the death of his mother, January 22, 1901. Formal coronation services were held in Westminster Abbey, August 9, 1902. March 10, 1863, he was married to Alexandra, the eldest daughter of the king of Denmark. The king and queen had five children, two sons and three daughters. Albert, the eldest, died in 1892. George, the second son, now on the throne, was born June 3, 1865. Louise was born in 1867--she is the wife of the Duke of Fife; Victoria Alexandra, in 1868; and Maud Charlotte, in 1869, now wife of Haakon VII, king of Norway.

King Edward was paid what we should call a salary of $500,000 a year. He had in addition allowances of $600,000 a year for salaries in the royal household; $1,000,000 for household expenses; $100,000 for "works;" $65,000 for charity; and $40,000 for an emergency fund. His eldest son had, in addition, and allowance of $150,000 a year. Three daughters had $30,000 a year each for spending money. The king had a private income of $300,000 a year from the Duchy of Lancaster. George, the second son, the heir apparent, received $350,000 a year from the Duchy of Cornwall. The brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces of the king were all cared for on a similar scale.

Owing to the long reign of his honored mother, Edward came to the throne late in life. At date of his formal coronation he was over sixty years of age. In his youth he was a prime favorite with sporting and society people. He was fond of yacht racing, cricket, athletics, and shooting. His colts won three Derbys. He was fond of cards and played for high stakes. He spent money liberally, far outrunning a princely allowance. Owing to royal etiquette, which forbids the heir from showing an interest in public affairs, Edward gave little promise of statesmanship. On his accession to the throne, however, the king pleased his friends by an assumption of quiet dignity, a patriotic regard for the welfare of his subjects, and prudence in the discharge of his duties. Edward was a bluff, democratic king, peaceable in disposition. He exerted a stronger influence over Parliament and his ministry than did his royal mother. He assumed at once a leading place among the crowned heads of Europe, as befitted the head of the most powerful nation in the in the world. In diplomatic circles he exerted an influence in favor of fair play and of good feeling, winning the name of Edward the Peacemaker.

In personal appearance the king was a typical Englishman, rather below the average stature, of strong and heavy build. His face was ruddy and betokened good health and good spirits. He wore his gray beard trimmed to a sharp point. A thin circle of gray hair diminished until he was quite bald. Even in his latter days he continued to be one of the best dressed men in Europe, and was regarded as a model for refinement of dress and bearing.

At state functions King Edward revived all the pomp and circumstance of medieval days. He drove to Westminster at the opening of Parliament in a sumptuous royal coach, attended by heralds, equerries, and outriders and a vast retinue, forming a pageant of royal splendor. On these occasions he wore the full robes of majesty.

Tactfulness was a conspicuous characteristic. The late king was frank, loyal, and warmhearted always. Those who associated with him said he was emphatically a "good fellow," simple and courteous, but a stickler for the deference which his rank demanded.

King Edward's death was regretted universally. It came at a crisis in a long contest between the Commons and the House of Lords. The Liberals were urging him to notify the Lords that unless they were willing not to obstruct the will of the people as expressed by the popular house, the hereditary house would be invaded by a sufficient number of newly created peers to effect desired legislation. King Edward was succeeded by his oldest living son who will be known in history as George V.

See Buckingham Palace; Windsor; Balmoral; Victoria; British Empire; Prince Of Wales

Edward the Confessor (1004-1066), king of the West Saxons. He was the son of Ethelred II and Emma of Normandy. During the days of Danish supremacy he lived in Normandy. On the death of Hardicanute he returned to England at the invitation of Godwine, whose daughter, Edith, he married. In 1042 the Witan, a national assembly of lords and ecclesiastics, placed him on the throne. Edward came of royal lineage, but was not the direct heir. Edward was a man of excellent personal qualities, but he lacked force and decisiveness. During his reign the Normans acquired great influence at court. William the Norman, who afterward conquered England, even went so far as to claim that Edward left him the kingdom of England in his will. Edward died without children; he was succeeded by his wife's brother, Harold, the same who was overthrown by William. Edward caused a notable compilation of laws to be made. This code is known as "The Laws of Edward the Confessor." He died in the odor of sancity, and was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1161.