Who was Simon de Montfort? | Henry III and the Second Barons' War | 2 Minute History

[Music] in 12:30 a French nobleman landed in England to claim his contested inheritance and the title Earl of Leicester his name was Simon de Montfort and he bought with him mercenaries for Henry the Third's latest for an expedition a deal was struck de Montfort Sami in return for the elder Sam orphan rose quickly through the social ranks marrying the King's sister Elinor in 1238 whilst firm friends to begin with De Montfort and the King soon fell out over a debt that Simon owed to the King of Savoy which had said Henry would guarantee meanwhile Henry's failed foreign policy spiraling debts and resentment to the influence of foreigners at court resulted in growing opposition amongst the Barons led by De Montfort in 1258 the opposition drafted the provisions of Oxford which for a time promise to limit royal power however when De Montfort returned to France in 1260 Henry went back on his word De Montfort returned to England in 1263 and in 1264 led a rebel army that defeated the king at the Battle of Lewes he then established a government based on the provisions led by the King's Council and he invited to Parliament for the first time representatives of the borough towns however de Montfort victory was short-lived a year later in 1265 at the Battle of Evesham forces loyal to the king and those loyal to De Montfort engaged in battle once more the outcomes are a sounding victory for Henry des monts that was found dead on the battlefield having been stabbed in the neck his body was mutilated and his body parts were dispatched across the kingdom as a warning to would be traitors the mob that's wife fled to France where she was later joined by her sons ending the de Montfort family as a political force in England but following his death Simon was heralded as a martyr at the Abbey of Evesham were de menthe that was briefly buried miracles were reported however Henry soon forbade any reference to De Montfort as a saint nevertheless people continue to visit the site of his death marking the beginning of the de Montfort legend and the origins of his posthumous title as the father of parliament [Music]