Henry
III appointed
Simon de Montfort as one of his main
polical advisers. Henry also valued Montfort's abilities as a military
commander, and in 1248 sent him to take control of Gascony, one of
the last areas in France that was still part of the English empire.
Montfort
soon became aware that the king was a poor leader. Montfort developed
the opinion that the situation would only improve if the barons played
a more active role in running the country. Other leading barons shared
Montfort's views and in 1258 they decided to take action.
In May the barons went
to see the king. They demanded that in future the king should not
make decisions without consulting his barons. Fearing a civil war
that he would lose, Henry accepted their demands for reform (the Provisions
of Oxford).
Fifteen barons, including
Simon de Montfort, were selected to
become members of this advisory council. However, it was not long
before Henry was ignoring his advisers. When the barons complained,
Henry bribed them with gifts.
Montfort refused to change
his mind over the need for a permanent council. He had a reputation
for being sympathetic to the needs of ordinary people. This helped
him gain the support of the majority of people who lived in the large
towns and cities. For example, in London
the people rebelled against Henry and handed over the city to Montfort.
After rallying his supporters,
the king decided to take on Montfort's army. The two sides met at
Lewes in Sussex on 14th May 1264. The bishops of Chichester, London
and Worcester, who were all supporters of Simon de Montfort, attempted
to negotiate a truce before the battle started. However Henry, who
had a much larger army and was confident of victory, refused to do
a deal.
Montfort had recently
broken his leg falling from a horse and had to direct operations while
sitting in a cart. However, it did not stop him winning a famous victory.
At the end of the battle the king had been captured and those members
of his army that had survived had fled from the battlefield.
The
Normans: Classroom Activities
(1)
The Song of Lewes (1264)
May the Lord bless Simon de Montfort and also his sons and
his army who, exposing themselves to death, fought bravely for the
English people... Simon de Montfort had few men used to arms; the
royal party was large, having assembled the greatest warriors in England...
but God provided... since God is a help for those who are on the side
of justice. Thus it was right that God should help the Earl, for without
God he could not overcome the enemy.
(2)
Thomas
Wykes, Chronicles (c. 1290)
Simon de Montfort... desired to put down the mighty and ruin
their power... so that he might more freely and easily subdue the
people, after having destroyed the strength of the magnates.
(3)
Extract from the song The Lament of Simon de Montfort (c. 1270)
By his death
the Earl Montfort gained the victory,
Like the martyr of Canterbury
he finished his life;
The good Thomas would not
allow holy church to perish,
The Earl fought a similar
cause, and died without
flinching.
(4)
Matthew
Paris, English History (c.
1275)
Earl Simon,
who gave up not only his property, but also his person, to defend
the poor from oppression, and for the maintenance of justice. Report
goes, that Simon, after his death, was distinguished by the working
of many miracles, which, however, were not made publicly known, for
fear of kings.
Last
updated: 20th September, 2002
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