Europe in 1300

England

The Kingdom of England was ruled by the house of the Plantagenets, who had been ruling there since the early 12th century. This was the dynasty that produced Henry II, Richard the Lionhearted, and the current king, Edward I, nicknamed Longshanks. Edward was one of the great medieval kings who introduced some major administrative and legal reforms, and who also brought Wales under direct rule. England was just finishing a war with France in 1300 and was about to begin a war with Scotland as well as with Wales. Indeed, wars with France and Scotland dominate English foreign affairs throughout our course.