Welsh Journals

THE ROLE OF ITALIAN FINANCIERS IN THE EDWARDIAN CONQUEST OF WALES THE determination and vigour which characterized the Welsh campaigns of Edward I have often been noted. Whatever else may be said of the kingship or character of Edward, he unquestionably had talents of the first order as a military leader and organizer. As J. E. Morris has written of the Welsh wars: Edward was fighting against geography. His real skill is seen in his organization, not only of his men, but in a greater degree of his transport. He brought up carts and carters and woodmen who were impressed for the work and carefully guarded ne fugerent per viam, but paid for their services. He kept open communications by sea by means of a squadron from the Cinque Ports and, when these ships were dismissed, by boats. He had relay after relay of workmen to cut through the natural barrier of forests, and made a road along the coast from Chester to Conway, fortifying his base at each stage by way of Flint and Rhuddlan. The axe was his weapon as much as the lance and the bow The conquest of Wales was effected by patience and resolution To war against geographical difficulties as well as a patriotic enemy needs genius.2 In a similar vein, Sir F. M. Powicke has praised the 'intelligence and energy' which above all distinguish Edward's Welsh campaigns from those of his father, Henry 111;3 he ranks the army which Edward led in his first Welsh expedition as the 'best controlled, as it was the best led, that had been gathered in Britain since the Norman Conquest'.4 M. R. Powicke is even more emphatic: The army of Edward I achieved a balance between contractual, feudal and communal troops which exceeded anything achieved before or after. The most striking development of the reign was the great extension of the use of pay, and associated with it, the first extant military contracts.5 This military policy was undoubtedly successful, but it was also, inevitably, expensive. Analyzing Edward's methods, Morris suc- cinctly wrote: 'first we see his need of ready money'. Cash was needed to pay the cavalry (at daily wages ranging from Is. to 4s.) 1 J. E. Morris, The Welsh Wars of Edward I (190 1), p. 105. Ibid., p. 129. 8 F. M. Powicke, The Thirteenth Century (1953), pp. 408-9. 4 Ibid., p. 411. M. R. Powicke, Military Obligation in Medieval England: A Study in Liberty and Duty (1962), p. 97. 1 Morris, Welsh Wars, p. 138.