Edward I's Regent: Edmund of Cornwall, The Man Behind England's Greatest King
Born at Christmas 1249 to Richard, Edmund of Cornwall was nephew to Henry III and cousin to Edward I. His eventful childhood took him to Germany when his father was elected king there. He was captured at the battle of Lewes and imprisoned for more than a year. Returning from crusade, he witnessed the brutal murder of his half-brother, which left him as heir to his father, the richest man in the kingdom.

Throughout his life, Edmund played a crucial role in medieval England. As Regent of England, Earl of Cornwall and the richest man in the land, he was a leading force of the late-thirteenth century.

This book considers Edmund’s life, his use of his wealth to lend to the king and others and to be a major benefactor of religious houses. His piety saw him found two new religious houses, rebuild another and bring the Holy Blood relic from Germany to Hailes abbey. His record as Regent of England for three years is assessed. The wide spread of his lands, which included 13 castles and more than 800 places in 27 counties, and his tenants are set out as is his place in the local community. The basis of his wealth and its sources, including money from his lands but also from tin mining and marine dues in Cornwall, is explored and his knightly affinity and his close associates and officials are considered. On a personal level, the book examines his unsuccessful, childless marriage with the sister of the Earl of Gloucester.

Edmund was a key figure throughout Edward I's rein and the late-thirteenth century. In this insightful account, the man behind England's 'greatest king' is at long last brought to the fore.
1140132960
Edward I's Regent: Edmund of Cornwall, The Man Behind England's Greatest King
Born at Christmas 1249 to Richard, Edmund of Cornwall was nephew to Henry III and cousin to Edward I. His eventful childhood took him to Germany when his father was elected king there. He was captured at the battle of Lewes and imprisoned for more than a year. Returning from crusade, he witnessed the brutal murder of his half-brother, which left him as heir to his father, the richest man in the kingdom.

Throughout his life, Edmund played a crucial role in medieval England. As Regent of England, Earl of Cornwall and the richest man in the land, he was a leading force of the late-thirteenth century.

This book considers Edmund’s life, his use of his wealth to lend to the king and others and to be a major benefactor of religious houses. His piety saw him found two new religious houses, rebuild another and bring the Holy Blood relic from Germany to Hailes abbey. His record as Regent of England for three years is assessed. The wide spread of his lands, which included 13 castles and more than 800 places in 27 counties, and his tenants are set out as is his place in the local community. The basis of his wealth and its sources, including money from his lands but also from tin mining and marine dues in Cornwall, is explored and his knightly affinity and his close associates and officials are considered. On a personal level, the book examines his unsuccessful, childless marriage with the sister of the Earl of Gloucester.

Edmund was a key figure throughout Edward I's rein and the late-thirteenth century. In this insightful account, the man behind England's 'greatest king' is at long last brought to the fore.
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Edward I's Regent: Edmund of Cornwall, The Man Behind England's Greatest King

Edward I's Regent: Edmund of Cornwall, The Man Behind England's Greatest King

by Michael Ray
Edward I's Regent: Edmund of Cornwall, The Man Behind England's Greatest King

Edward I's Regent: Edmund of Cornwall, The Man Behind England's Greatest King

by Michael Ray

Overview

Born at Christmas 1249 to Richard, Edmund of Cornwall was nephew to Henry III and cousin to Edward I. His eventful childhood took him to Germany when his father was elected king there. He was captured at the battle of Lewes and imprisoned for more than a year. Returning from crusade, he witnessed the brutal murder of his half-brother, which left him as heir to his father, the richest man in the kingdom.

Throughout his life, Edmund played a crucial role in medieval England. As Regent of England, Earl of Cornwall and the richest man in the land, he was a leading force of the late-thirteenth century.

This book considers Edmund’s life, his use of his wealth to lend to the king and others and to be a major benefactor of religious houses. His piety saw him found two new religious houses, rebuild another and bring the Holy Blood relic from Germany to Hailes abbey. His record as Regent of England for three years is assessed. The wide spread of his lands, which included 13 castles and more than 800 places in 27 counties, and his tenants are set out as is his place in the local community. The basis of his wealth and its sources, including money from his lands but also from tin mining and marine dues in Cornwall, is explored and his knightly affinity and his close associates and officials are considered. On a personal level, the book examines his unsuccessful, childless marriage with the sister of the Earl of Gloucester.

Edmund was a key figure throughout Edward I's rein and the late-thirteenth century. In this insightful account, the man behind England's 'greatest king' is at long last brought to the fore.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781399093545
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication date: 05/13/2022
Pages: 280
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x (d)

About the Author

After school in Shropshire, Michael Ray read geography and town planning at King’s and University Colleges, London. Retiring early from a planning career, he returned to KCL and obtained a PhD after a study of aliens in thirteenth-century England. He has since been published in books, journals and on websites including Academia.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Tables xii

Acknowledgements xiii

List of Abbreviations xv

Conventions xxi

Illustrations xxiii

Chapter 1 Edmund: The Early Years 1

Chapter 2 Edmund: The King's Man 15

Chapter 3 Edmund: The Regent 23

Chapter 4 Post-Regency Years 32

Chapter 5 Edmund at Court: Presence and Rewards 37

Chapter 6 Edmund and His Family 41

Chapter 7 Edmund's Marriage 52

Chapter 8 Edmund's Friends and Associates 65

Chapter 9 Edmund's Men: His Knightly Affinity 75

Chapter 10 Edmund's Men: His Clerks and Officials 89

Chapter 11 Edmund, the Man of Piety 101

Chapter 12 Edmund, Man of Wealth: The Source of His Wealth 120

Chapter 13 Edmund, Man of Wealth: Income from His Lands and Special Sources 127

Chapter 14 Edmund's Expenditure, his Loans, and Overall Accounts 140

Chapter 15 Edmund, the Landlord and His Tenants 148

Chapter 16 Edmund in the Local Community 160

Chapter 17 Edmund at Law 170

Chapter 18 Edmund, the Man and His Legacy 182

Conclusion 194

Genealogical Tables

Genealogical Table A Edmund of Cornwall's paternal family 195

Genealogical Table B Edmund of Cornwall's maternal family 196

Notes 197

Bibliography 226

Index 238

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