The Angevins & Plantagenets (1154 - 1399)

Richard Lionheart

King John 'Lackland' (1199 - 1216)

King John was born in Oxford and reigned as King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. John was a Plantagenet, or specifically an Angevin, King and succeeded to the throne as the younger brother of King Richard I known as 'Richard the Lionheart'.

John acquired the nicknames of 'Lackland' for his lack of an inheritance as the youngest son and for his loss of territory to France; and of ‘Soft-sword’ for his alleged military ineptitude. King John is the subject of the Shakespearean play, King John, and was buried at Worcester Cathedral (www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/cathedral/index.php).

Edward I

Edward I 'Longshanks' (1272 - 1307)

Named after Edward the Confessor, Edward I was known as 'Longshanks' because of his 6 foot 2 inch frame. Before he became King, Edward was made overlord of Ireland (present-day Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). Once crowned, he endeavoured to create a British empire dominated by English rule.

During his reign, Edward I conquered Wales appointing his eldest son Prince of Wales, and went on to attack Scotland. Although, Edward managed to captive Scotland's Stone of Destiny (now kept in Edinburgh Castle (www.edinburghcastle.biz/)) and take it to Westminster Abbey (www.westminster-abbey.org), Scotland was defiant and retained its independence until late in the reign of the Stuart kings.

Legoland in Windsor

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