Editing Edward I of England (section)

===Character as king===
[[File:The Seal of King Edward I.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The Seal of Edward I, dating from 1290. It depicts the King in armour with a sword and a shield, and he is riding on a horse.|A 1290 seal of Edward I]]
Edward had a reputation for a fierce and sometimes unpredictable temper,<ref name= Hamilton61>{{Harvnb|Hamilton|2010|p=61}}.</ref> and he could be intimidating; one story tells how the [[Dean of St Paul's]], wishing to confront Edward over high taxation in 1295, fell down and died once he was in the King's presence,<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|2005|p=177}}.</ref> and one 14th-century chronicler attributed the death of [[Thomas of Corbridge|Archbishop Thomas of York]] to the King's harsh conduct towards him.<ref name= Hamilton60>{{Harvnb|Hamilton|2010|p=60}}.</ref> When Edward of Caernarfon demanded an earldom for his favourite [[Piers Gaveston]], the King erupted in anger and supposedly tore out handfuls of his son's hair.<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|1997|p=552}}.</ref> Some of his contemporaries considered Edward frightening, particularly in his early days. The ''[[Song of Lewes]]'' in 1264 described him as a leopard, an animal regarded as particularly powerful and unpredictable.<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|1997|p=24}}.</ref> At times, Edward exhibited a gentler disposition, and was known to be devoted to his large family. He was close to his daughters, and gave them expensive gifts when they visited court.<ref name= Hamilton62/>

Despite his harsh disposition, Edward's English contemporaries considered him an able, even an ideal, king.<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|1997|p=559}}.</ref> Though not loved by his subjects, he was feared and respected, as reflected in the lack of armed rebellions in England during his reign.<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|2003|pp=37–38, 565}}.</ref> Edward is often noted as exhibiting vindictiveness towards his defeated enemies, and triumphalism in his actions.<ref>{{harvnb|Frame|1990|pp=142-143}}</ref> Historian [[Rees Davies|R.&nbsp;R.&nbsp;Davies]] considered Edward's repeated and "gratuitous belittling of his opponents", to have been "one of the most consistent and unattractive features of his character as king".<ref>{{harvnb|Davies|2000|pp=346-347, 366, 383}}. Quotes at p. 347</ref> Examples include the seizure of fragments of the Holy Cross from Wales after its defeat in 1283, and subsequently the Stone of Scone and [[regalia]] from Scotland after defeats in 1296.<ref>{{harvnb|Davies|1990|p=|pp=125–126}}</ref> Some historians question Edward's good faith and trustworthiness in relation to his dealing with Wales and Scotland, believing him to have been capable of behaving duplicitously.<ref>{{harvnb|Barrow|1983|pp=394-395}}, {{harvnb|Davies|2000|pp=346-347}}</ref>

Historian Michael Prestwich believes Edward met contemporary expectations of kingship in his role as an able, determined soldier and in his embodiment of shared chivalric ideals.<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|2003|pp=33–34}}.</ref> In religious observance he fulfilled the expectations of his age: he attended chapel regularly, gave [[alms]] generously and showed a fervent [[devotion to the Virgin Mary]] and [[Saint Thomas Becket]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|1997|pp=112–113}}; {{Harvnb|Hamilton|2010|p=59}}.</ref> Like his father, Edward was a keen participant in the tradition of the [[royal touch]], which was believed to cure those who were touched from [[scrofula]]. Contemporary records suggest that the King touched upwards of a thousand people each year.<ref name= Hamilton60/> Despite his personal piety, Edward was frequently in conflict with the Archbishops of Canterbury who served during his reign. Relations with [[the Papacy]] were at times no better, Edward coming into conflict with Rome over the issue of ecclesiastical taxation.<ref name= Hamilton60/> Edward's use of the church extended to war mobilisation including disseminating justifications for war, usually through the issue of writs to England's archbishops, who distributed his requests for services and prayers.{{sfn|Bachrach|2004|p=396}} Edward's architectural programme similarly had an element of propaganda, sometimes combining this with religious messages of piety, as with the Eleanor Crosses.{{sfn|Stocker|1986|p=115}}

Edward took a keen interest in the [[Arthurian Cycle|stories of King Arthur]], which were popular in Europe during his reign.<ref>{{Harvnb|Raban|2000|p=140}}; {{Harvnb|Prestwich|2003|p=34}}.</ref> In 1278 he visited [[Glastonbury Abbey]] to open what was then believed to be the tomb of Arthur and [[Guinevere]], and gained "[[Llywelyn's coronet|Arthur's crown]]" from Llywelyn after the conquest of North Wales;<ref>{{Harvnb|Chancellor|1981|p=113}}.</ref> his castle-building campaign in Wales drew upon the Arthurian myths in their design and location.<ref>{{Harvnb|Morris|2009|p=192}}; {{Harvnb|Prestwich|1997|pp=120–121}}.</ref> He held "Round Table" events in 1284 and 1302, involving tournaments and feasting, and chroniclers compared him and the events at his court to Arthur.<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|1997|pp=120–121}}; {{Harvnb|Loomis|1953|pp=125–127}}.</ref> In some cases Edward appears to have used the Arthurian myths to serve his own political interests, including legitimising his rule in Wales and discrediting the [[King Arthur's messianic return|Welsh belief that Arthur might return as their political saviour]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Morris|2009|pp=164–166}}; {{Harvnb|Prestwich|1997|pp=121–122}}.</ref>