Timeline

1275		Revolt of Llewelyn of Wales
		Llewelyn had consistently failed to do homage to Edward. He had been paying sums of money to the English crown as agreed in the Treaty of Shrewsbury drawn up in 1267 but after the death of Henry III the payments had stopped. Edward's repeated demands for a meeting with Llewelyn were ignored. In an attempt to stir up internal problems in England Llewelyn sent to France for Eleanor de Montfort who had been promised to him as a bride for his support of Henry III in the Baronial revolt against the English King. Eleanor was captured by the English on the journey and was then held prisoner by Edward. Edward finally had to accept Llewelyn as a rebel and so began his war on the Welsh. Feudal levies were called for June 1277. This meant that an army was to be raised via the feudal system to supports the King's war with the Welsh.
1276		Edward's war with the Welsh begins
		Before the main army could be assembled Edward ordered that the Marchers and the smaller permanent forces attached to the royal household were to be sent out in three detachments. Although not much headway was made in the north the south and central districts abandoned their allegiance to Llewelyn. Roger Mortimer was able to force Llewelyn to retreat from Powys northwards. It was soon clear that the only area the Llewelyn had any control over was the north of Wales.
1277		Construction of Builth Castle
		Edward I orders improvements to be made to the castle at Builth.
	Jun	Feudal levies
		Edward I called for feudal levies to be collected to pay for his war against the Welsh prince who had repeatedly refused to pay him homage.
	Jul	Edward reaches Worcester
		Joined by a force of some 800 cavalry and 2500 infantry at Worcester, Edward moved north to Chester. Edward's force then proceeded to move along the north coast of Wales. His advance was impeded by dense forest which offered the Welsh good opportunities to launch surprise attackes on the English troops. Edward built a wide road through the forests building fortified posts along the way. The force of soldiers were on a forty-days service agreement and after that some returned home. Edward retained some by paying them extra for their services.
	Jul	Construction of Flint Castle begun
		As part of the plans to defeat Llewelyn Edward I ordered the construction of Flint Castle in Clwyd. Edward had been impressed by fortified town and castle combinations he had seen on his travels in France and Flint Castle was designed in the same manor. The castle was completed in 1280.
	Aug	Reconstruction of Rhuddlan Castle begun
		Leaving work on Flint Castle underway Edward I moved on up the coast to Rhuddlan where he found the remains of an old Norman Motte and Bailey castle overlooking an important crossing point of the river Clywd. A new castle was ordered and work began to create both the castle and a new town alongside.
	Nov 10	Edward defeats Llewelyn
		Llewelyn was cut off from supplies and an escape route so had to accept defeat. Edward demanded payment of £50,000 and all of Llewelyn's territories. Llewelyn was left only with the Isle of Angelsey which he had to pay rent of £1,000 a year. Edward also demanded that Angelsey should be handed in the case that Llewelyn died without a male heir. Llewelyn swore fealty to Edward at Rhuddlan on November 10th and again at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day.
1278	Oct 13	Llewelyn marries Eleanor
		With peace between Edward and Llewelyn, the marriage between Llewelyn and Eleanor de Montfort was allowed to continue. The marriage took place at Worcester and was attended by Edward.
1282		Aberystwyth Castle damaged
		The Welsh attacked and burnt the castle at Aberystwyth and its town.
		Construction of Denbigh Castle
		Another castle was built by Edward I's master castle builder, James of St. George in North Wales.
	Mar	Hawarden Castle captured by the Welsh
		David ap Gruffydd attacked and took control the castle at Hawarden. The constable, Roger de Clifford, was captured during the attack.
	Easter	Another Welsh Uprising
		David, Llewelyn's brother, rose up in revolt. Llewelyn, even though he had sworn fealty to Edward, joined his brother in the fight against the English.
	Aug	Feudal levy gather at Rhuddlan
		King Edward had called for the feudal army to gather at Rhuddlan in August to put down the Welsh revolt. Edward and Eleanor's daughter Elizabeth was born at Rhuddlan at this time.
	Nov 6	English defeated
		Luke de Tany, on the side of the English, had taken control of Anglesey. The plan was attack the Welsh rebels from the north and so a bridge of boats was constructed across the Menai Straits that separate Angelsey from Wales. The Welsh were waiting for the English in force and the English plan failed. Many of the English knights drowned when the boat bridge was destroyed.
	Dec 11	Llewelyn killed
		Whilst fighting in the south of Wales Llewelyn was killed. He had moved to the rear of his army feeling secure with the way the war was progressing. A detachment of English found a way across the river Wye which Llewelyn was using for protection and moved around the rear of the Welsh army where the Prince was. Before Llewelyn could rejoin his army he was cut down and killed. His head was cut off and taken to the King Edward. Llewelyn's brother David carried on the fight against the English for another six months.
1283		Construction of Caernarvon Castle
		Edward and his master castle builder started the reconstruction of a new castle at Caernarvon.
		Construction of Conway Castle begun
		After capturing Dolwyddelan, Edward moved up the river Conway to its mouth and a new castle was ordered. The castle's design and size were chosen to prove the royal power of the English King. The construction took until 1297.
		Dolwyddelan Castle captured
		After the death of Lleweyln Edward was free to occupy all the previous strongholds of the Welsh Princes. In 1283 Edward attacked and captured the Welsh castle at Dolyyddlan.
	Mar	Castle Criccieth captured
		Edward moved around the Welsh coast to attack and capture the Welsh castle at Criccieth. He then moved on and ordered another castle to be built at Harlech.
	May	Harlech Castle begun
		Work began on Harlech Castle. Money for the construction being moved from Cymer Abbey a few miles to the south of the new castle's location.
	Jun	David of Wales captured
		David the brother of Llewelyn was handed over to the king by his own supporters who had already surrendered. He was taken to Shrewsbury Castle where a Parliament met and sentenced him to death by execution.
	Oct 3	David ap Gruffydd is executed
		David was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death. His punishment for betraying the King was to be drawn, hanged and quartered.
1284		'Round Table' event in Nefyn
		Edward arranged a 'Round Table' event and tournament at Nefyn in Wales. He promised the Welsh that he would provide them with a Prince of Wales. This he did as in this year, Edward (II) was born who would be invested as the Prince of Wales in February 1301.
	Mar	Statute of Wales/Rhuddlan
		After the second Welsh rebellion Edward decided to bring Wales under direct rule. The Statute of Rhuddlan brought English laws to Wales. Edward appointed sheriffs and bailiffs for the northern territories while the southern areas were left under the control of the Marcher Lords.
	Apr 25	Edward (II) is born
		Edward, the future king of England was born at Caernarvon Castle on the 25th April, 1284. His father was Edward I and his mother was Eleanor of Castile. The castle was probably still under construction as work on it had only begun the year before.