Henry II had labored to secure unity of law for England. Edward I's
aim was to bring the whole island of Britain under one ruler. On the
west, Wales only half acknowledged the power of the English King,
while on the north, Scotland was practically an independent
sovereignty. The new King determined to begin by annexing Wales to
the Crown.
He accordingly led an army thither, and after several victorious
battles, considered that he had gained his end. To make sure of his
new possessions, he erected along the coast the magnificent castles of
Conway, Beaumaris, Harlech, and Carnarvon, all of which he garrisoned
with bodies of troops ready to check revolt.
In the last-named stronghold, tradition still points out a little dark
chamber in the Eagle Tower, more like a state-prison cell than a royla
apartment, where Edward's second son was born (1284). Years afterward
the King created him the first Prince of Wales (1301). The Welsh had
vowed that they would never accept an Englishman as King; but the
young Prince was a native of the soil, and certainly in his cradle, at
least, spoke as good Welsh as their own children of the same age. No
objection, therefore, could be made to him; by this happy compromise,
it is said, Wales became a principality joined to the English
Crown.[4]
[4] Wales was not wholly incorporated with England until more than two
centuries later, namely in 1536, in the reign of Henry VIII. It then
obtained local self-government and representation in Parliament.