Edward I - Castles

One Mammoth Memory friend visited some of the incredible, magnificent castles in Wales. She went to Conwy Castle in North Wales.

From this point onwards she learnt everything she could about Edward I who built 17 (yes, 17) castles in Wales.

This is how you should start if you love castles, and was her first hook into history.

The Year Edward I became King

You must first look up how we remember Edward I was crowned King in 1272 otherwise the following will be meaningless. You can find the information here and here.

Edward I became king in 1272. She can remember this because she remembers using her big Nikon (1272) camera to photograph Conwy Castle while sitting outside next to her daughter eating (Edward 1) cake. 

Picture this exaggerated picture she uses to remember castles, Eat (Edward I) and Nikon (1272)

(Note: If the picture of the date and King or Queen is not exaggerated and funny it will be more difficult to remember).

She used this image and "Remembering Kings and Queens" method (mnemonic major system) to recall that

Nikon = 1272

Eat = Edward I

All associated with = Castles

This one image started her on a knowledge of the greatest castle builder that has ever been.

Conwy Castle

Now you have your first link or first mnemonic so that you can grow an intimate web of knowledge about this incredible king. 

To remember she was at Conwy Castle, picture in your minds eye that she was also taking a picture of someone on the ramparts pushing a giant conker that weighed a ton (Conwy).

Edward I - Longshanks

Recall that Edward I was also called Longshanks.

Edward I in our Mammoth Memory language is Eat (see Remember Kings and Queens Edward I)

Imagine eating so well and so much as a child that you grew extra long legs.

Edward I was called Edward I Longshanks because he was 6ft2in (188cm), which was an incredible height in the 13th century.

He towered over most of his contemporaries, hence the epithet "Longshanks" meaning "long legs" or "long shins".

Summary

Using this method above, you can begin to build up an intimate knowledge of one King. Learn about this father Henry III who showed him how to build castles when building Montgomery Castle in Powys, Wales.

Learn Edward I

1. Publicly executed William Wallace in London in a murderous death
2. He owned all the land in England and granted it to those who were loyal
3. He was a plantagenet
4. He strengthened the crown and parliament 

As you watch films, read books or visit castles, you will become knowledgeable, which in turn will teach you about other Kings and Queens because Edward I's policies later affected them.

Edward I - Build your first web of knowledge.