Henry III: Reform, Rebellion, Civil War, Settlement, 1258-1272
By David Carpenter
Yale University Press
ISBN: 978-0-300-27933-7
The second volume in the monumental biography of Henry III, it tells the story of how the English king faced growing discontent, leading to a rebellion that almost ended his long reign.
Excerpt:
Volume 1 of this biography ended with the parliament of April 1258 when an armed march on Westminster Hall forced Henry III to accept reform of the realm. Volume 2 continues from that point and takes the story to Henry’s death in 1272. Although it covers only fourteen years of the reign as opposed to volume 1’s over forty, it is much the same length. I am not conscious of writing at any different pace. It is simply that the years from 1258 are the more packed with incident, indeed politically they are amongst the most dramatic and traumatic periods in English history. After the Westminster parliament, a baronial council took control of the country and promulgated reforms far more revolutionary and wide-ranging than those of Magna Carta in 1215. They were known as the Provisions of Oxford. In 1261, Henry recovered power only to lose it in 1263 to a movement pledged to restore the Provisions. It was led by his brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, one of the greatest figures in English history, venerated and vilified in equal measure.
On 14 May 1264 Montfort won a miraculous victory at the battle of Lewes, taking prisoner both Henry and his eldest son, Lord Edward. Thereafter Montfort governed England down to his defeat and death (his body gruesomely mutilated) at the battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265. The royalist victory, however, only brought more war. Henry’s government attempted to disinherit Montfort’s supporters and the result was two further years of strife. The period between 1263 and 1267 saw widespread destruction. There was a massacre of the Jews in London and attacks on them in other towns. Both sides ravaged the estates and seized the possessions of their enemies. The political community was torn apart in a way unseen again until the 1640s. But in the end the policy of disinheritance was reversed, the wounds of the war closed over and Henry’s reign ended in peace.
Who is this book for?
David Carpenter has set out to write the definitive biography of King Henry III. Together with Henry III: The Rise to Power and Personal Rule, 1207-1258, Carpenter has written over 1500 pages, making this a very in-depth work. Any scholar interested in Henry, or with English history in the thirteenth century, will want these books.
“While unraveling the intricate politics, Carpenter has also managed to incorporate the prodigious historiography of the period. He does not hesitate to comment on events or to critique individuals’ behavior but keeps historical controversy to a minimum. Carpenter wants the story of what happened to stand out, and he succeeds. Sometimes dramatically, as in his description of the battles of Lewes and Evesham. Throughout, the narrative moves briskly, largely keeping the focus on Henry.” – review by Scott L. Waugh in Speculum.
The Author
David Carpenter is Professor of Medieval History at King’s College London. Besides being a leading authority on Henry III, he is also known for his work on Magna Carta.
Henry III: Reform, Rebellion, Civil War, Settlement, 1258-1272
By David Carpenter
Yale University Press
ISBN: 978-0-300-27933-7
The second volume in the monumental biography of Henry III, it tells the story of how the English king faced growing discontent, leading to a rebellion that almost ended his long reign.
Excerpt:
Volume 1 of this biography ended with the parliament of April 1258 when an armed march on Westminster Hall forced Henry III to accept reform of the realm. Volume 2 continues from that point and takes the story to Henry’s death in 1272. Although it covers only fourteen years of the reign as opposed to volume 1’s over forty, it is much the same length. I am not conscious of writing at any different pace. It is simply that the years from 1258 are the more packed with incident, indeed politically they are amongst the most dramatic and traumatic periods in English history. After the Westminster parliament, a baronial council took control of the country and promulgated reforms far more revolutionary and wide-ranging than those of Magna Carta in 1215. They were known as the Provisions of Oxford. In 1261, Henry recovered power only to lose it in 1263 to a movement pledged to restore the Provisions. It was led by his brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, one of the greatest figures in English history, venerated and vilified in equal measure.
On 14 May 1264 Montfort won a miraculous victory at the battle of Lewes, taking prisoner both Henry and his eldest son, Lord Edward. Thereafter Montfort governed England down to his defeat and death (his body gruesomely mutilated) at the battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265. The royalist victory, however, only brought more war. Henry’s government attempted to disinherit Montfort’s supporters and the result was two further years of strife. The period between 1263 and 1267 saw widespread destruction. There was a massacre of the Jews in London and attacks on them in other towns. Both sides ravaged the estates and seized the possessions of their enemies. The political community was torn apart in a way unseen again until the 1640s. But in the end the policy of disinheritance was reversed, the wounds of the war closed over and Henry’s reign ended in peace.
Who is this book for?
David Carpenter has set out to write the definitive biography of King Henry III. Together with Henry III: The Rise to Power and Personal Rule, 1207-1258, Carpenter has written over 1500 pages, making this a very in-depth work. Any scholar interested in Henry, or with English history in the thirteenth century, will want these books.
“While unraveling the intricate politics, Carpenter has also managed to incorporate the prodigious historiography of the period. He does not hesitate to comment on events or to critique individuals’ behavior but keeps historical controversy to a minimum. Carpenter wants the story of what happened to stand out, and he succeeds. Sometimes dramatically, as in his description of the battles of Lewes and Evesham. Throughout, the narrative moves briskly, largely keeping the focus on Henry.” – review by Scott L. Waugh in Speculum.
The Author
David Carpenter is Professor of Medieval History at King’s College London. Besides being a leading authority on Henry III, he is also known for his work on Magna Carta.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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