Simon de Montfort

• Beginning of Henry III's reign

  • became King of England in 1216, on the death of his father, King John
  • He was nine years old and a Council of Barons helped him rule
• When and why was the Magna Carta reissued

  • 1216 on Henry's accession
  • 1217, along with the Forest Charter
  • 1225 just before Henry became of age to rule
  • the re-issue of the Charter was normally accompanied by a demand from the King for more taxes
• Why were the Barons displeased with Henry III's financial actions?

  • Henry was always short of money and after more
  • Huge expenditure in wars to win back land in France
  • Huge expenditure in paying the bill for war in Sicily
  • Money was typically spent for familial interest and expansion of land
  • Therefore heavy taxation had to be in place, which displeased the barons
• How did judicial grievances impact the relationship between King Henry III and his barons?

  Royal favourites appeared to receive preferential treatment
• Barons' grievances regarding foreigners

  The role of foreigners in governing the country who appeared to exclude those outside a small royal circle from power and influence
• How did king Henry's sheriffs dissatisfy the barons?

  The way sheriffs in the counties were favouring Henry rather than applying the law fairly
• Origin of the de Montfort family

  • After the Norman invasion in 1066, the de Montfort family was one of the first aristocratic families to come to England from Normandy
  • Over the next 200 years, they lost more and more of their land to the king
• How did Simon de Montfort get in favour of the king?

  • Because the de Montfort family had lost land, in 1229 Simon, the leading member of the family, tried to reclaim som of the land
  • He approached King Henry III
  • Henry agreed to give the family some land back
  • He made de Montfort one of his favourites and gave him the job of steward
  • He married Henry's sister Eleanor
• How did Henry annoy the barons with his desire to fight wars in France

  • In 1930, he took his army to Brittany and Gascony
  • he lost, despite having raised taxes
• Example of how henry III asked Simon de Montfort to fight wars on his behalf

  • Despite his failure in France in 1230, he sent Simon de Montfort to France to try again in 1248
  • He was successful and regained land
• Reasons for conflict between Simon de Montfort and Henry III

  • Henry called Simon de Montfort back to England after his successes in France in 1248 as he mistreated the inhabitants of the town
  • Henry put him on trial for misrule in Gascony
  • Henry failed to pay Eleanor's dowry (and Simon de Montfort needed the money)
• What did Simon de Montfort do with the barons, who were angry with King Henry III?

  • became their spokesperson
  • made the King agree to the Provisions of Oxford
• What did the Provisions of Oxford State?

  • A council of 15 barons would now be in charge of the Great Council, which would play a key role in running the country
  • They would be elected by 24 men
  • 12 elected by the king, and 12 by the barons
• How did the Provisions of Oxford benefit the barons?

  It gave them majority of power, as they stated that the barons could make decisions without the king's presence or approval - limited King's power
• Why did divisions between barons grow due to the Provisions of Oxford?

  There were conflicting points of view between the radical and conservative barons about the Provisions
• How did King Henry III take advantage of divisions between the barons?

  • he wrote to Pope, asking for his permission to cancel the Provisions
  • In 1261, the Pope agreed
  • The King cancelled the Provisions and Simon de Montfort left England for France
• What was the Battle of Lewes?

  • Simon de Montfort led an army of barons to victory against the King in 1264
  • The King and his son were captured
  • Simon de Montfort ended up in charge of England
• Why did barons worry about Simon de Montfort?

  They felt he was growing too powerful
• What did Simon de Montfort do to stay in power after barons worried he was becoming too powerful?

  • Called a meeting of the Great Council, inviting not just the barons, but knights and burgesses from every country
  • This was the first time that commoners had been invited to a meeting in the coucnil
• How did hosting a council meeting with commoners get Simon de Montfort leverage against the barons?

  • He aimed to broaden the base of support for his regime, legitimising his rule in the eyes of a wider part of society
  • Engaging commoners in the political process created a counterbalance to the baronial elites, who might otherwise plot against him
• How did Simon de Montfort die?

  • lost to an army of about 1800 knights lead by Henry's son Edward in the Battle of Evesham
  • Died as a result of a loss of baronial support
• Outcomes of Simon de Montfort's work

  • Henry's son, Edward I, setting up the Model Parliament (which includes representatives of commoners) based on Simon de Montfort's ideas
  • It was the first time commoners were represented in parliament, which was a significant step in the democratisation of the country
  • De Montfort became an inspirational symbol (martyr) to later movements
  • Future kings were more likely to listen to barons and follow rights set out in Magna Carta