Edward I

The son of Henry III, as a young prince Edward was given the task of reducing the dependence of Ireland and Wales on the royal purse. In his dealings on the continent, Edward won a sure and foremost place for England in the councils of Europe. At home, he pushed through new legislation, particularly with regard to estate law, and reformed every branch of the English judicial system and, Tout argues, created the English constitution. Edward died with the hope that England could still subdue Scotland, and with history primed to name him a great English statesman.