Maybe because it took them 200 years to do so? Or that in order to do so required calling upon English interests in France to bolster their army? Even then they relied heavily upon loyal Welsh troops from mid Wales. And finally more castles than any other country in order to keep the Welsh in place. All this for a nation of fairly easy going people.
........Orda
No sorry Orda,
before Edward finally had enough of the northern wales, as Wales had been England since roman times, various Lords who had sworen fealty would go raiding(by defination, English Lords), where by the princes, as they are so styled themselves in the 1200's, and Edward allowed them to keep the title in 1278AD treaty, were allowed to live under treaty most of the time.
Even King Henry III smacked north Wales because they would raid other areas. Generally just causing trouble, but they where not independant, and hadn't been since well before King Stephen's time. They lived under treaty by their overlord the King.
You cannot Conquer what is already yours.
Easy Going people? yeah who would go killing stealing and raping :) Real easy going.
More castles than what nation? that would be Luxemburg and germany per sq km. Or even per population.
Wales even in Stephen, and William the I times, was England, and a province of Such, just as (Wessux and Anglia and Mercia) as is it's offical status today.
There was not any relying on Loyal welsh troops as you put it, they used mainly marcher lord troops, and royal army(the northern one). Mostly troops from the then Royal Marcher of Cheshire.
Hence the famous Edwardian Castles are only in the north west of Wales.
The last Rising in Wales was English lords in 1400's or late 1300's.
But Wales has been no different to any other area, every now and again, people disagreed and would resort to arms.
Edward being impressed By Welch Archers? No
England Already was using the Longbow, the Welch campign made them famous.
Edward took Longbowman from Surrey with him in the VIII Crusade 1271AD, and his father used longbowman before him in Battle of Lewes ~1264AD against Montfort, who also used them.
ARCHERY LAW OF ENGLAND......1252AD (BEFORE EDWARD was born).
All Men age between 15 to 60, must train, and equip themselves for service of the King....oh dear? thats before!!! Edward, heck thats before his father.
A musket even up to the 1800's is a useless weapon over 60 meters, surely someone thought to think, well i wonder why they marched in a line close packed and fire there weapons at point blank.
Does make one question doesn't it.
PS: OFFICALLY the two most powerful bows in the World are the longbow and African elephant bow. Both of which top 220lb (900n).
The average power for bows of all designs is about 50 pounds (220 newtons) at 28 inches (70 cm) of draw.
LONGBOW.... there are three main head types for the longbow.
short bodkin ........used against armnour plate <---- this is the one that killed all the French nobles (In plate Armour) at crecy with the English losing only 50 odd men. The Longbow stopped an enitre attack before it started.
Long bodkin........Against chainmail
swallowtails........used against horses.
Longbowman, where also trained swords man, because after the battle of Crecy 1364...the French King Decreed that every Longbowman Caught with have his Two Fingers cut off.....hence even today, we give the Fingers to someone we don't like.
They where trained in a Butt.
where by military training armed and unarmed, and command training was given.
....Ready your Bows...
....Nock...fit Arrow
....Mark....like aiming
....Draw... pull bow back
....Loose...FIRE!
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