King Henry III of England 1216-1272285

A weak, untrustworthy king, bad at warfare and greedy for taxes. From 1258 England was in sporadic civil war. In 1264 Henry was captured by his brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort, who summoned him to a Parliament, where an atempt was made to bind him to act with the advice of a baronial council. This Westminster Parliament, to which two knights from every shire and two burgesses from certain towns were summoned, marked the starting point of the House of Commons. 163

Reigned 1216-1272. A minor when he took the throne he did not take the reigns of Government himself until 1234. Baronian discontent simmered, boiling over in 1258 when Henry facing financial disaster attempted to raise large sums from his magnates. Reforms were agreed upon but then renounced by Henry. Simon de Montfort led a rebellion against the King (the Barons Wars) which was defeated after initial success (see de Montfort’s listing for further info). Thereafter Henry ceded much of his power to his son. Burke say he was born 10 Oct 1206 and married 14 Jan, crowned 1216.283

Reigned longer than any other English monarch until the 18th century.205

A petulant, injudicious man, quick-witted with a waspish, unguarded tongue. Lavish with affection but over-sensitive to betrayal. Impetuous and lacking wisdom, he was not especially vondictove or violent. His motto was “He who does not give what he holds does not receive what he desires.” He was unusually chaste, a faithful husband. Moody, affectionate, excitable, energetic, thoughtful, and devout.205

Maternal line goes back thru counts & countesses of Flanders, Saxony, Savoy, etc. Oldest line to Mechild (Maude), Princess of Saxony (b 920). Paternal line goes back thru counts of Provence and Burgundy, to kings and queens of Barcelona, Aragon, and Castile.282

One of England’s most hated queens, she flaunted her “foreignness” just as the English were forging a national identity. She was the younger sister to the Queen of France and married the weak-willed, possibly “half-witted” Henry at age 13. She saw to it that French nobles were given poisitions of influence at the English court, and foreign ships given precedence over English ones at the Queenhythe dock.

She lived through the civil war which saw her husband and son captured but later released. When she emerged from the Tower of London where she’d taken refuge, she was pelted with mud and filth from the streets.

Henry’s will specified she be Regent after his death, but her son Edward was 33 and she saw him crowned instead. She then retired to a convent where her children often visted her.284