Simon+de+Montfort

Simon de Montfort- Only Man Capable? toc Simon de Montfort was the third son, a position traditionally destined for little glory. Yet he played a significant role in the eventual formation of the English parliament. The rebellion he led in 1263 dethroned King Henry III and gave Montfort immense control over England. Simon de Montfort was able to gain support as the rightful leader and thus gain victory over the crown because of three factors- his adherence to his religious beliefs, his devotion to the reform and his military leadership.

==**Devoted Christian **==  Simon’s actions as a devoted Christian gained him much ecclesiastical support. Simon de Montfort’s father was known as a defender of the Church[1] and Matthew Paris, a monk who recorded a substantial amount of English history, suggested that Simon ‘studied to follow his father’s example in all things’[2]. Montfort’s nature has been described as devout, spiritually alert and given to prayer[3]. His affinity with his Christian beliefs led him to aid the church and its mission[4]. Adam Marsh, an Oxford friar in correspondence with Simon said of him in a letter: ‘O most kind earl, what shining purity, glory, and holiness will be your divine reward in the kingdom of God because you toil tirelessly ... to purify, illuminate, and sanctify the Church of God through appropriate governance[5] ’. Simon’s actions thus took on religious authority, as if the rebellion was God’s will, which encouraged many people to assist the rebellion. It can be seen that his Christian beliefs gained him the support of the church and consequently the assistance of many people connected to the church.

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**Dedicated Reformer **
 Dedication to the reform was a major reason that Simon de Montfort was the essential leader of the rebellion. Simon de Montfort had been a key instigator of the Provisions of Oxford, created in June 1258, which in essence, dictated that the magnates be given more power over administrative areas and save England from foreign domination[6]. Yet when King Henry III overthrew the Provisions in 1261, Simon was the only one to stand by the reforms[7], leaving England rather than accepting what had occurred[8]. Simon’s steadfastness to the Provisions of Oxford[9] not only proved his commitment to the reform but also showed the qualities required of a good leader such as dedication, reliability and consistency. These qualities, among others, caused his previous allies among the barons to urge him to return and take up the mantle of leadership against Henry in 1263<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[10]. This he did, proving to be the right man for the task of removing Henry III from the throne.



**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Distinguished Leader **
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Finally, it was Simon de Montfort’s military prowess which allowed him many victories, including the successes in 1263. Before Simon was an opponent to Henry III, Matthew Paris describes Simon de Montfort’s military strength, relating one instance in which Simon ‘also took with him a chosen body of troops raised at his own expense...and the knights and soldiers he had with him were a numerous host<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[11] ’. His command was respected and evoked loyalty in his soldiers. Matthew of Westminster describes ‘a speech of great persuasiveness [which was] made to the soldiers by their general, Simon de Montfort, by which all were encouraged, and prepared to fight for their country with every feeling of security<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[12] ’. Simon always chose battle in favour of surrendering and no earl in 1258 could match Simon’s military command<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[13]. Some historians declare that Simon de Montfort’s superb courage and élan was without equal<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[14]. Therefore Simon de Montfort was a skilled general, able to win impressive victories over those who opposed him where other barons would have failed.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Conclusions **
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Simon de Montfort was the only one capable of dethroning Henry III, even if for only a short time, because of the following factors. His faith permitted him to make connections among the church and its people, which allowed him to expand his forces and provided religious justification for the rebellion. Moreover, he was chosen by the barons to lead the rebellion because of his unfaltering commitment to the Provisions of Oxford. Finally, he was believed to have been one of the greatest military leaders of his time, showing great skill in battle, up until his death in 1265. It was these main factors, along with others, which caused him to be the leader of the barons and one of the most influential men of the time.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">[1] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">J.R. Maddicott, //Simon de Montfort (//Cambridge, 1994), 7. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">[2] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Matthew Paris, //English History, from the year 1235 to 1273,// vol. III, trans. J.A. Giles (London, 1854), 21. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[3] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Maddicott (1994), 97. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[4] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> D.A. Carpenter, ‘Simon de Montfort: The first leader of a political movement in English History,’ //Simon de Montfort Society// (1988), 13. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[5] Adam Marsh, ‘Letter of Adam Marsh to Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester (135),’ in //The Letters of Adam Marsh,// vol. II, ed. C.H. Lawrence (Oxford, 2010), 329. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[6] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Carpenter (1988), 4. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[7] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Ibid, 6. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[8] S. Stewart, ‘Simon de Montfort and his followers, June 1263,’ //English Historical Review// CXIX.483 (2004), 965. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[9] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> C. Valente, ‘Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and the utility of sanctity in thirteenth-century England,’ //Journal of Medieval History// 21 (1995), 36. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[10] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Carpenter (1988), 6; Valente (1995), 965. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[11] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Matthew Paris, 56. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">[12] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Matthew of Westminster, //The Flowers of History:// //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">especially such as relate to the affairs of Britain. From the beginning of the world to the year 1307 Volume 2 // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">trans. C.D. Yonge II (London, 1853). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[13] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Carpenter (1988), 6. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">[14] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">W. Seymour, ‘Simon de Montfort as a soldier,’ //History Today// 28.7 (1978), 456.