Edward I and the Governance of England, 1272-1307

This important exploration of the reign of Edward I - one of England's most lionised, feared and successful monarchs - presents his kingship in a radical new light. Through detailed case studies of Shropshire, Warwickshire and Kent, Caroline Burt examines how Edward's governance at a national level was reflected in different localities. She employs novel methodology to measure levels of disorder and the effects of government action, and uncovers a remarkably sophisticated approach to governance. This study combines an empirical examination of government with an understanding of developing political ideas and ideological motivation and contributes towards a greater understanding of the development of local government and politics in England in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Edward emerges as a king with a coherent set of ideas about the governance of his realm, both intellectually and practically, whose achievements were even more remarkable than has previously been recognised.List of maps; List of tables; List of figures; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction; Part I. Context: 1. Royal government; 2. Political ideas; 3. The localities: Shropshire, Warwickshire and Kent; Part II. Chronology: 4. Edward: the apprenticeship, 1254-72; 5. 1272-7; 6. 1278-85; 7. 1286-93; 8. 1294-1301; 9. 1302-7; Conclusion; Appendix: tables and figures; Bibliography.