Huw Edwards looks at the legend of Owain Glyndwr. This documentary is in 8 parts. Part 1 is given here. Follow the links for PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, PART 7, PART 8.

Archaeologists and historians working in northern Israel have discovered the remains of a Templar and Crusader army who were slaughtered by Saladin in one of the major battles of the Crusades. The results of the excavations are now being broadcast on the program “Last Stand of the Templars”, which is being shown this week on the National Geographic Channel.

How much is Britain to blame for problems in its former colonies?
Britain is either complacent or self-lacerating in blame when it comes to its imperial legacy. As with most things, the record is mixed. Click HERE to read more from the Guardian

According to one early twelfth-century story St Ambrose, disguised as a crusader, appeared in a vision to an Italian priest and asked him why there had been such a great response to the appeal of Pope Urban II for crusaders. The priest replied that he was troubled, because different people give different reasons for this journey. Some say that in all pilgrims the desire for it has been aroused by God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Others maintain that the Frankish lords and most of the people have begun the journey for superficial reasons and that it was because of this that setbacks befell so many pilgrims in the Kingdom of Hungary and in other kingdoms; and for that reason they cannot succeed.


Find out Jonathan Riley-Smith's take on the issue in this excellent article

Some primary sources about Edward I's dealings with the Scottish. Click the bottom-right to read more

1. The Treaty of Salisbury
This source tells us about the negotiations between the Guardians and Edward I’s representatives and the King of Norway over the return of Margaret, Maid of Norway to Scotland.

The King of England faithfully promises that if the lady comes into his hands of custody free and quit of any contract of marriage and betrothal then, when the kingdom of Scotland is completely settled and at peace so that the lady may safely stay there, and when the king of England is requested to do so by the people of Scotland, the king will send the lady to Scotland, as free and quit of all contracts…as when he received her: provided that the good people of Scotland before they receive the lady give proper and adequate guarantee to the king of England that they will in no sense marry the lady except with his decree, agreement and advice of her father the king of Norway.

An excellent resource looking at Edward I and Edward II#s dealings with Scotland HERE

A range of great resources here. Some of them are a bit hard to read but if you get the basic gist of them, that should be fine.
First of all, professor R.R. Davis looks at the background to Edward I in Wales here: LINK

Whilst Dr Ifor Rowlands investigates the process and impact of Edward's conquest of Wales - lots of sources in this one: LINK

A good set of audio clips in which A.D. Carr discusses the career of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, ‘the Last Prince of Wales’, and in particular Llywelyn’s final uprising against Edward I, and the deaths of Llywelyn and his brother Dafydd. LINK

He then goes on and discusses the impact of the ‘conquest’ of Wales, and Edward I's programme of castle-building. Nancy Edwards describes the planning of Edward's new towns. LINK

Castles Wales provides some good information on Edward's castle building: LINK

An excellent set of image resources about Edward I and Wales: LINK

The following are some source materials dealing with the reign of King John.

A brief biography of John as a king is provided by the BBC here: LINK

An easy to read account of John's life, including details on the Magna Carta and its impact can be found here: LINK

Spartacus provide five primary sources on John - but be careful - remember who writes these sources: LINK

Owain Glyndwr led a rebellion against Henry V's father, Henry Bolingbroke. The following are some useful links and sources to help you find out more

BBC Wales gives an overview of Owain's rebellion: LINK

The Annals of Glyndwr can be found here: LINK

Plus a small selection of additional primary sources: LINK

Shakespeare seems to take up most of what can be found on Henry V so here are a few links to other things:

A timeline of Henry's reign can be found here: LINK
Henry fought the Hundred Years War on two fronts - military and diplomatic - but was the signing of the Treaty of Troyes in 1420 his greatest victory or just a millstone around England's neck? Find out here: LINK


Plus of course a little Lawrence Olivier in the 1944 film... Interestingly you can also find a version of "Once more into the breech" done by William Shatner... weird!