BRAVEHEART CONNECTIONS

Edward I King of England was known as "Longshanks" and "Hammer of the Scots". He was my 21st Great Grand Uncle. I printed his line on February 18 in my blog. Thought I was expand on some connections now.  He was first son of King Henry III.

Edward was born January 1239 in Westminster Palace, London, England.  He died July 1307 in Burgh-on-the-Sands, Cumbria, England while marching against the Scots.

Edward was on a Crusade at the time of his accession to be King and reigned for 35 years.  He first married Eleanor of Castille and had 16 children with her!  She died in 1290.  He then married Margaret, daughter of Philip III of France.  They had 3 children together.

1277 he set out to resolve the Welsh problem that was a burden to Henry III's reign.  Eventually the Welsh resistance collapsed.  1284 there was mix of English and Welsh Law.  Many castles were built to secure the boundaries that were made, including Caernarvon Castle which is where Edwards son Edward was born and was created to be Prince of Wales in 1301.

Caenarvon Castle

Edwards next marched would be on Scotland and won a crushing victory at Falkirk against William Wallace's  Scottish Army .  There was a lot of fighting back and forth.   Wallace was eventually betrayed and turned over to the English and executed.  With Scotland under English rule now, he installed Englishmen and collaborating Scots to govern the land. Robert Bruce arose and made himself King of Scotland, this was campaign took England by surprise.  Edward fell into ill health when this fighting began again, and died.  (Robert Bruce is also in my tree in a round about way).

Another relative of mine is Johannes De Hage VI  who is my 25th Great Grandfather.  He was born in 1271 in Perth, Scotland and died 1326.   He was married to Ermegard de Gordon.  On the morning of September 11, 1297 Johannes stood with William Wallace on  Stirling Bridge for the first war of Scottish Independence against the English.  (this is all the information I've been able to find on him, He's on my watch list!!)