Henry III: Reform, Rebellion, Civil War, Settlement, 1258-1272 (The English Monarchs Series Book 2)

**The second volume in the definitive history of Henry III’s rule, covering the revolutionary events between 1258 and the king’s death in 1272** After coming to the throne aged just nine, Henry III spent much of his reign peaceably. Conciliatory and deeply religious, he created a magnificent court, rebuilt Westminster Abbey, and invested in soft power. Then, in 1258, the king faced a great revolution. Led by Simon de Montfort, the uprising stripped him of his authority and brought decades of personal rule to a catastrophic end. In the brutal civil war that followed, the political community was torn apart in a way unseen again until Cromwell. Renowned historian David Carpenter brings to life the dramatic events in the last phase of Henry III’s momentous reign. Carpenter provides a fresh account of the king’s strenuous efforts to recover power and sheds new light on the characters of the rebel de Montfort, Queen Eleanor, and Lord Edward—the future Edward I. A groundbreaking biography, __Henry III__ illuminates as never before the political twists and turns of the day, showing how politics and religion were intimately connected. The second volume in the definitive history of Henry III’s rule, covering the revolutionary events between 1258 and the king’s death in 1272
 
After coming to the throne aged just nine, Henry III spent much of his reign peaceably. Conciliatory and deeply religious, he created a magnificent court, rebuilt Westminster Abbey, and invested in soft power. Then, in 1258, the king faced a great revolution. Led by Simon de Montfort, the uprising stripped him of his authority and brought decades of personal rule to a catastrophic end. In the brutal civil war that followed, the political community was torn apart in a way unseen again until Cromwell.
 
Renowned historian David Carpenter brings to life the dramatic events in the last phase of Henry III’s momentous reign. Carpenter provides a fresh account of the king’s strenuous efforts to recover power and sheds new light on the characters of the rebel de Montfort, Queen Eleanor, and Lord Edward—the future Edward I. A groundbreaking biography, Henry III illuminates as never before the political twists and turns of the day, showing how politics and religion were intimately connected. CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS PREFACE A NOTE ON THE TEXT 1 Revolution and Reform, 1258–1259 2 The Material and the Moral: Simon de Montfort and Baronial Motives, 1258–1259 3 Henry, Queen Eleanor and Lord Edward, 1258–1259 4 The Treaty of Paris, 1258–1259 5 Henry and his People 6 Triumph: Henry’s Recovery of Power, 1260–1261 7 Disaster: Simon de Montfort’s Return and Henry’s Capitulation, 1262–1263 8 The Collapse of Simon de Montfort’s Rule and the Civil War, July 1263–May 1264 9 Montfort Victorious: From the Battle of Lewes to the Parliament of 1265 10 Montfort’s Kingdom 11 Montfort’s Downfall: From the Parliament of 1265 to the Battle of Evesham 12 The War of the Disinherited, 1265–1267 13 Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Crusade, 1268–1270 14 Recovery and Resettlement 15 The Last Two Years, 1270–1272 16 Epilogue and Conclusion GLOSSARY Appendix 1 THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE COSMATI WORK AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY Appendix 2 HENRY’S WILL BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX