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. He was captured at the battle of Lewes and imprisoned for more than a year. 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 explores his life, his use of his wealth to lend to the king and others, and his piety, which 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, and his wide spread of lands, tenants, and knightly affinity are considered. On a personal level, the book examines his unsuccessful marriage with the sister of the Earl of Gloucester.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Born on Christmas Day in 1249 to Richard, Edmund of Cornwall was the nephew of Henry III and the cousin of Edward I. His childhood was marked by a series of events that took him to Germany when his father was elected king there. However, his reign was cut short when he was captured at the Battle of Lewes and imprisoned for over a year. Upon his return from the Crusades, he witnessed the brutal murder of his half-brother, which left him as the 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 explores Edmund's life, his use of his wealth to lend to the king and others, and his significant contributions to religious houses. His piety led him to 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, along with the widespread distribution of his lands, which included 13 castles and over 800 places in 27 counties. The book also delves into his place in the local community and his knightly affinity, as well as his close associates and officials.

On a personal level, the book examines his unsuccessful marriage to the sister of the Earl of Gloucester. Edmund was a key figure throughout Edward I's reign and the late-thirteenth century. In this insightful account, the man behind England's greatest king is finally brought to the fore.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399093545