Second Barons' War

Second Barons' War
Chronique de Saint-Denis (ou de France) · Public domain · source
Name	Second Barons' War
Date	1264–1267
Place	England, Wales, Gascony
Result	Royalist victory; terms in Dictum of Kenilworth, Statute of Marlborough
Combatant1	Royalists: Henry III of England supporters, Roger de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester, Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (opponents)
Combatant2	Baronial faction led by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, allies including Prince Edward (later Edward I), Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester (defectors)
Commanders1	Henry III of England, Prince Edward (later Edward I), Hugh Despenser, William de Valence
Commanders2	Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, Henry de Montfort, Simon the Younger, Roger Mortimer (lord of Wigmore)
Casualties	Heavy; Battle of Lewes and Battle of Evesham notable

Second Barons' War The Second Barons' War (1264–1267) was an English civil conflict between the royal forces of Henry III of England and a coalition of rebellious magnates led by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester. The struggle combined pitched battles, sieges, and political maneuvering over the implementation of the Provisions of Oxford and parliamentary reform, culminating in de Montfort’s temporary rule and eventual defeat. Its outcomes influenced later developments in English Parliament and legislation such as the Statute of Marlborough.

Background

Tensions before the conflict involved the reign of Henry III of England, his patronage of foreign relatives like William Marshal (family) allies and Hugues de Lusignan clients, and fiscal pressures generated by campaigns in Gascony and relationships with the Papal States. Opposition coalesced around magnates including Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester (elder), and members of the Marcher Lords such as Roger Mortimer (lord of Wigmore) and Humphrey de Bohun. Earlier settlements such as the Provisions of Oxford (1258) and the Provisions of Westminster (1259) attempted to curtail royal prerogative and reform royal administration, provoking repeated conflict between royalists around Peter de Montfort supporters and reformers.

Causes and Prelude

Immediate causes included dissatisfaction with Henry III of England’s household, alienation over favorites like Peter des Roches and William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke, and resentment at financial burdens imposed for campaigns in Gascony and Poitou. Simon de Montfort’s alliance with disaffected magnates produced demands for enforcement of the Provisions of Oxford and oversight by a council of barons drawn from families such as the de Clare family, de Montfort kin, and de Bohun retainers. Diplomatic attempts involving envoys to Louis IX of France and appeals to the Pope failed to reconcile factional disputes; the summoning of parliamentary assemblies under de Montfort intensified rival claims to legitimacy. Prince Edward (later Edward I)’s escape from custody and subsequent alignment with royalist forces shifted the balance toward open warfare.

Major Campaigns and Battles

Campaigns ranged across England and Wales, with significant actions in the Midlands and the Home Counties. The pivotal Battle of Lewes (1264) saw de Montfort’s forces defeat Henry III of England and Prince Edward (later Edward I), resulting in the capture of the king and the imposition of de Montfort’s authority through the Oxford Parliament of 1265. Following the temporary ascendancy, royalist resurgence under Prince Edward (later Edward I) led to a decisive confrontation at the Battle of Evesham (1265), where Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester was killed and royalist command reasserted. Other sieges and skirmishes involved notable locales such as Kenilworth Castle and Sutton Coldfield, while competing noble houses—de Clare family, Mortimer family, de Bohun family—played dynamic roles in shifting alliances.

Political Developments and Simon de Montfort

After Battle of Lewes, de Montfort established an administration that summoned a wider assembly, giving representation to knights of the shire and burgesses from towns like London, Winchester, and Norwich—an innovation influencing later English Parliament. De Montfort’s governance involved enforcement of the Provisions of Oxford and attempts at fiscal reform, drawing on officials from families including Walter de Merton and clerical advisers with ties to University of Oxford. His leadership polarized magnates: some like Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester defected, while others such as Roger Mortimer (lord of Wigmore) vacillated. Contemporary chroniclers including Matthew Paris and Roger of Wendover offer contrasting portrayals of de Montfort’s motives and methods.

Royalist Resurgence and Collapse of the Revolt

Prince Edward (later Edward I), after escaping confinement, conducted an effective campaign employing cavalry and leveraging loyalty among marcher lords and continental veterans from Gascony and Poitiers. The royal victory at Evesham decapitated the baronial leadership; subsequent sieges, most notably the long resistance at Kenilworth Castle, culminated in negotiated settlements. Key figures such as Henry de Montfort and Simon the Younger perished or were exiled, while families including the de Clare family reconciled with the crown through restored estates and titles.

Aftermath and Constitutional Impact

The conflict’s legal and constitutional aftermath included negotiated instruments such as the Dictum of Kenilworth (1266) and royal statutes culminating in the Statute of Marlborough (1267), which addressed baronial grievances and property restitutions. The procedural precedent of wider parliamentary representation under de Montfort informed later developments under Edward I of England, influencing reforms in assemblies and the role of boroughs like York and Bristol in national politics. The war reshaped power among magnate families—de Clare family, Mortimer family, de Bohun family—and clarified the balance between crown and aristocracy in thirteenth-century England.

Category:13th century in England Category:Civil wars involving England