Kings of England :
Henry III 1216-72
Edward I 1272-1307
Background information :
The defeat of the Baronial revolt led by Simon Montfort at Evesham brought the initiative back to Mortimer / Crown side during the late 1260's and early 1270's. Allthough Llewelyn ap Gruffydd had won substantial territorial gains along the border for the Welsh during the early 1260's, during the early 1270's and probably as an attempt to maintain the peace, he had allowed Roger Mortimer, now backed by the King, to retake his former lands in Maelienydd. The situation became worse for Llewelyn after 1272 when King Henry died and was succeeded by his son Edward, Roger Mortimers friend and ally from the campaigns and battles of the 1260's. Llewelyn refused to give hommage to Edward and with the

growing threat of an English invasion Llewelyns support diminished. This process increased when, in 1274 Edward,who had been on crusade, returned to his Kingdom. Llewelyn now gave up more territory in a desparate attempt to avoid the inevitable. Mortimer was given remaining Welsh territory in N Radnorshire, while in the S Elfael was given up to the de Tony family. The general situation was not helped when Llewelyn married Eleanor, the daughter of Simon Montfort, who had led the rebellion against Edwards father Henry in the 1260's. Along the border precursors to war began to happen with Mortimer siezing Welsh merchants at Leominster and Montgomery, who were supplying Llewelyns forces. Such incidents weakened the logistics for the Welsh until the English invasion on which Edward embarked in 1277.