The taming of the dragon : Edward I & the conquest of Wales
"The castles which were constructed in Wales on the orders of King Edward I are some of the best-known examples of medieval military architecture in Europe. Yet the wars which preceded, and indeed caused, their construction are far less well-known. In the first book to focus exclusively on the this topic for many years, Wayne Bartlett draws on a rich variety of contemporary sources to explore Edward I's conquest of Wales - a story full of drama, intrigue, passion and contradictions." "The Welsh wars were vital to the evolution of Britain, bringing Wales into union with England and marking the end of an independent Celtic culture in the west as it disappeared into the realms of memory and myth. Yet the wars cannot be seen simplistically as a struggle between two different cultures - although the English and Welsh cultures are different - because so many Welshmen fought on the side of the English. Neither were the wars merely a trial of wills between two strong-minded individuals, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, prince of Gwynedd, and Edward I, King of England. There were many other key players such as John Giffard, a great opportunist who secured his fortune as a result of the war and Llywelyn's volatile brother, Dafydd. Even Edward's great castle-building programme was not an unqualified success: it came at a great cost, almost bankrupting England's treasury." "Wayne Bartlett portrays the dangerous world of medieval power politics; bringing to life the people and events of the thirteenth century and exploring their legacy of castles and myths. The Taming of the Dragon will appeal to those intrigued by the medieval world, especially those with an interest in Welsh history and heritage."--BOOK JACKET
History
xii, 228 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps, portraits (some color) ; 24 cm
9780750932172, 0750932171
51993177