BREAKING Into The Tomb Of King Edward I

Often considered one of the greatest English Medieval Kings, Edward I was known as the Hammer of the Scots. He was a large and intimidating man, who inspired fear in his subordinates, and he was held in great respect as not just a King but as a military leader and soldier. He was responsible also for a full scale conquest of Wales, and he established English rule and built a huge number of castles which were settled in by English people. He was so well respected, that he was brought in to arbitrate disputes between the claimants to the Scottish throne. He ruled England for around 35 years, but following his death, 400 years later his remains were tampered with, and his coffin was opened by a curious dean of Westminster Abbey. Still today his tomb can be seen inside the abbey, but what is the story of the breaking into the tomb of Edward I?

The death of Edward I was not a shock, and it had been coming as his health progressively got worse over the last three years of his life. He suffered from a painful and prolonged illness, and throughout 1306 and in the early part of 1307 the King’s household made a number of purchases of foreign medicines, ointments and even leather leggings to help keep away some of his problems and pains. His legs were often dealt with and he wore compression tights also, and he also had a neck brace made. Edward I suffered with aching joints, which were very painful and he often also took herbal baths and drank pomegranate wine and a cordial which was made from crushed amber, musk, pearls and gold and silver. His health would go up and down, and some months he would be mobile, but others he would be carried around. He would manage to inspect his soldiers on the border for a final campaign in Scotland, and despite the threat of his death he refused to give in.