King of England :
Edward I 1272-1307
Background information :
The wars of 1277-82 saw the last vestiges of hopes for Welsh independence from the English crushed. Llewelyn tried all sorts of tactics to stave off his defeat including a curious treaty with Roger Mortimer in 1281 which named the latter as his heir, thus excluding Llewelyn's brothers from any inheritance. Following this there was a Welsh counter attack along the border during which Mortimers lands were left alone, but the general picture was bad for the Welsh. Edward I was an exceptionaly capable military leader and his skillful use of a combined navy and land army together with the construction of a series of new Castle strongholds throughout the conquered territories of Wales left him firmly in control. There were further

attempts at counter attack but in 1282 Llewelyn, who was with his men at Rhayader went looking for support from other dispossesed Welsh figureheads and was intercepted by Roger Mortimers forces who killed him in the resultant fight. Roger did not live much longer either, as he died suddenly at Kingsland the same year.The Mortimer estates passed via Roger Springhose, sherriff of Shropshire, to Edmund Mortimer. The Welsh cause was continued briefly by Llewelyns brother Daffyd but he too was cornered and captured in the mountains of N Wales in 1283. Edward executed him shortly afterwards. With his conquest of Wales complete Edward consolidated his gains with the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284 which formaly united Wales and England under one ruler. Wales was now set up into counties, and English Law took over.