| 1276 | | Edward's war with the Welsh begins |
| | | Before the main army could be assembled Edward ordered that the Marchers and the smaller permanent forces attached to the royal household were to be sent out in three detachments. Although not much headway was made in the north the south and central districts abandoned their allegiance to Llewelyn. Roger Mortimer was able to force Llewelyn to retreat from Powys northwards. It was soon clear that the only area the Llewelyn had any control over was the north of Wales. |
| 1277 | | Construction of Builth Castle |
| | | Edward I orders improvements to be made to the castle at Builth. |
| Jul | Edward reaches Worcester |
| | | Joined by a force of some 800 cavalry and 2500 infantry at Worcester, Edward moved north to Chester. Edward's force then proceeded to move along the north coast of Wales. His advance was impeded by dense forest which offered the Welsh good opportunities to launch surprise attackes on the English troops. Edward built a wide road through the forests building fortified posts along the way. The force of soldiers were on a forty-days service agreement and after that some returned home. Edward retained some by paying them extra for their services. |
| Jul | Construction of Flint Castle begun |
| | | As part of the plans to defeat Llewelyn Edward I ordered the construction of Flint Castle in Clwyd. Edward had been impressed by fortified town and castle combinations he had seen on his travels in France and Flint Castle was designed in the same manor. The castle was completed in 1280. |
| Aug | Reconstruction of Rhuddlan Castle begun |
| | | Leaving work on Flint Castle underway Edward I moved on up the coast to Rhuddlan where he found the remains of an old Norman Motte and Bailey castle overlooking an important crossing point of the river Clywd. A new castle was ordered and work began to create both the castle and a new town alongside. |
| Nov 10 | Edward defeats Llewelyn |
| | | Llewelyn was cut off from supplies and an escape route so had to accept defeat. Edward demanded payment of £50,000 and all of Llewelyn's territories. Llewelyn was left only with the Isle of Angelsey which he had to pay rent of £1,000 a year. Edward also demanded that Angelsey should be handed in the case that Llewelyn died without a male heir. Llewelyn swore fealty to Edward at Rhuddlan on November 10th and again at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. |
| 1278 | Oct 13 | Llewelyn marries Eleanor |
| | | With peace between Edward and Llewelyn, the marriage between Llewelyn and Eleanor de Montfort was allowed to continue. The marriage took place at Worcester and was attended by Edward. |
| 1282 | | Construction of Denbigh Castle |
| | | Another castle was built by Edward I's master castle builder, James of St. George in North Wales. |
| Mar | Hawarden Castle captured by the Welsh |
| | | David ap Gruffydd attacked and took control the castle at Hawarden. The constable, Roger de Clifford, was captured during the attack. |
| Easter | Another Welsh Uprising |
| | | David, Llewelyn's brother, rose up in revolt. Llewelyn, eventhough he had sworn fealty to Edward, joined his brother in the fight against the English. |
| Dec 11 | Llewelyn killed |
| | | Whilst fighting in the south of Wales Llewelyn was killed and the uprising of 1282 ended. His brother David was captured and hanged. |
| 1283 | | Construction of Caernarvon Castle |
| | | Edward and his master castle builder started the reconstruction of a new castle at Caernarvon. |
| | Construction of Conway Castle begun |
| | | After capturing Dolwyddelan, Edward moved up the river Conway to its mouth and a new castle was ordered. The castle's design and size were chosen to prove the royal power of the English King. The construction took until 1297. |
| | Dolwyddelan Castle captured |
| | | After the death of Lleweyln Edward was free to occupy all the previous strongholds of the Welsh Princes. In 1283 Edward attacked and captured the Welsh castle at Dolyyddlan. |
| Mar | Castle Criccieth captured |
| | | Edward moved around the Welsh coast to attack and capture the Welsh castle at Criccieth. He then moved on and ordered another castle to be built at Harlech. |
| May | Harlech Castle begun |
| | | Work began on Harlech Castle. Money for the construction being moved from Cymer Abbey a few miles to the south of the new castle's location. |
| Jun | David of Wales captured |
| | | David the brother of Llewelyn was handed over to the king by his own supporters who had already surrendered. He was taken to Shrewsbury Castle where a Parliament met and sentenced him to death by execution. |
| 1284 | | 'Round Table' event in Nefyn |
| | | Edward arranged a 'Round Table' event and tournament at Nefyn in Wales. He promised the Welsh that he would provide them with a Prince of Wales. This he did as in this year, Edward (II) was born who would be invested as the Prince of Wales in February 1301. |
| Mar | Statute of Wales/Rhuddlan |
| | | After the second Welsh rebellion Edward decided to bring Wales under direct rule. The Statute of Rhuddlan brought English laws to Wales. Edward appointed sheriffs and bailiffs for the northern teritories while the southern areas were left under the control of the Marcher Lords. |
| Apr 25 | Edward (II) is born |
| | | Edward, the future king of England was born at Caernarvon Castle on the 25th April, 1284. His father was Edward I and his mother was Eleanor of Castile. The castle was probably still under construction as work on it had only begun the year before. |
