Simon+de+Montfort+-+father+of+democracy+in+England

Wiki by student 42622420  Simon de Montfort - rebel, lover and democrat A foreign man comes to seek his fortune, seduces and marries the King’s sister, is exiled multiple times and eventually dies in battle aga inst Royalist forces - de Montfort's life was certainly one of immense drama and adventure, perhaps a reason it has been so well remembered.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2009/04/06/simon_de_montfort_feature.shtml

Fast Facts

Birth : May 1208 Father : Simon de Montfort the elder Mother : Alix de Montmorecy Spouse : Eleanor of England Children : Henry de Montfort, Simon VI de Montfort, Amaury de Montfort, Guy de Montfort, Joanna de Montfort, Richard de Montfort, Eleanor Princess of Wales Titles : Earl of Leicester, Earl of Chester and de facto ruler of England Death : 4 August 1265 (aged 57) at the Battle of Evesham

Contents


 * 1) Early Life
 * 2) Starting Out in England
 * 3) Difficulties with the King
 * 4) Consolidating His Power
 * 5) Death
 * 6) External Links
 * 7) References
 * 8) Bibliography

Early Life Simon de Montfort was born in roughly 1208, into one of the mightiest aristocratic families in Northern France [1]. It has been hypothesized that he lived with his family in the South of France during his childhood, however due to lack of primary sources it cannot be proven[2].

As the third son, Simon had little hope of inheriting the rich lands or titles of his father[3]. Instead, he travelled to England, where he had inherited a claim to Leicester through his grandmother.

Starting Out in England Despite his status as a newcomer, he had a certain political deftness that allowed him to forge the right allegiances, and begin to gain some political standing in his adopted country. King Henry III of England welcomed his arrival. This was extremely important for Simon, because already he was facing financial difficulties.

He aimed to end these troubles by becoming an earl, and by making a profitable marriage[4]. For the next several years he governed small areas of Leicester, but worked his way up the social ladder.

Despite the increasing power he wielded his financial situation worsened.

Difficulties with the King In 1238 his luck turned for the better, and he was given permission to marry Eleanor, the King’s own sister[5]. Following this prestigious union, Simon basked in the King’s favour, and became an important advisor[6].



However this did not end his financial difficulties, living so vastly above his means as he was. Deep in arrears, he foolishly named the King as security for his debt – a cavalier move that earned the King’s wrath[7]. He was exiled from England in 1239[8], but was a year later allowed back into the kingdom. From this time forward Simon began to repeatedly question and undermine the Crown’s authority. This proved to be only the start of an increasingly volatile relationship with the King. http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/123/John I.htm

Consolidating His Power During the 1240’s Simon assembled a loyal band of influential barons and earls[9]. As an extremely pious man, he also drew reform minded ecclesiasts to his anti Royalist cause. His religiosity, his influential circle and his persuasiveness made him a force to be reckoned with, and helped him gain popular support. In 1258 Simon and a group of other barons forced the King to sign the Provisions of Oxford, often seen as England’s first written constitution.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bxOt3PMdCG4/SsJ5ztF54...and[1].png

The implementation of this was a huge step forward towards the democracy modern England now enjoys and was the most effective move against royal autocracy in England until the 17th century[10].

The Provisions of Oxford :
 * Twenty-four members governed England, not solely the King[11].
 * Knights came from each county to represent their district, making the King accountable to his subjects[12].

Simon led the Seconds Baron War against the Royalist forces, hoping to reassert the Magna Carta and force the Crown to relinquish more power to the barons and earls[14].

<span style="color: #8f0511; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Death - The Immovable Column

Many other barons eventually accepted the King’s assertion of power, but Simon stood firm, “like an immovable column” as contemporary writer Rishanger described him[15]. However, even seemingly immovable columns topple eventually. Simon died fighting at the Battle of Evesham in 1265[16], having never given up his cause.



<span style="color: #8f0511; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">External Links <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">W.H. Hutton - Simon de Montfort and his Cause An informative book chronicling the life and ambitions of Simon de Montfort New World Encyclopedia - Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester A fairly brief encyclopedia entry, a good overview of his life and times.

<span style="color: #8f0511; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">References [1] Maddicott, JR, //Simon de Montfort// (Cambridge University Press, 1996), pp 1 [2] Maddicott, JR, //Simon de Montfort// (Cambridge University Press, 1996), pp 1 [3] Maddicott, JR, //Simon de Montfort// (Cambridge University Press, 1996), pp 7 [4] Rooke, P, //Simon de Montfort// (The Simon de Montfort Society, 2008) pp 8 [5] Bjork, RE, "Montfort, Simon de, earl of Leicester", //The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages// (2010), 10 [6] Rooke, P, //Simon de Montfort// (The Simon de Montfort Society, 2008) pp 8 [7] Maddicott, JR, //Simon de Montfort// (Cambridge University Press, 1996), pp 129 [8] Maddicott, JR, //Simon de Montfort// (Cambridge University Press, 1996), pp 137 [9] Carpenter, DA, “Simon de Montfort : The First Leader of a Political Movement in English History”, //History// 76 (2007) pp 11 [10] Rosenthal, JT, “The Second Barons War”, //Speculum// 70 (1995) 4, 933 [11] Cavendish, R, “The Provisions of Oxford”, //History Today// 58 (2008) 6, 12 [12] Labarge, MW, “Simon de Montfort’s Parliament”, //Parliamentary Affairs// 18 (1970) 1, pp 15 [13] Labarge, MW, “Simon de Montfort’s Parliament”, //Parliamentary Affairs// 18 (1970) 1, pp 17 [14] Rooke, P, //Simon de Montfort// (The Simon de Montfort Society, 2008) pp 8 [15] The Chronicle of William de Rishanger’s “The Miracles of Simon de Montfort”, in //The Internet Archive// http://www.archive.org/details/willderishang00camduoft (accessed 15.8.11) [16] Suppe, FC, “Battle of Evesham”, //Albion// 27 (1995) 4, 647

<span style="color: #8f0511; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Bibliography

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Matthew of Westminster’s “The Flowers of History”, in //The High Middle Ages 814-1300// by AR Lewis, pp. 414-17 and 436-38 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Chronique de Guillaume de Nangis, in //English Earls Created 1067 – 1122// <http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISH%20NOBILITY%20MEDIEVAL.htm> (accessed 12.8.2011) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Chronicle of William de Rishanger’s “The Miracles of Simon de Montfort”, in //The Internet Archive// http://www.archive.org/details/willderishang00camduoft (accessed 15.8.11) <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bjork, RE, "Montfort, Simon de, earl of Leicester", //The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages// (2010) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Carpenter, DA, “Simon de Montfort : The First Leader of a Political Movement in English History”, //History// 76 (2007) 246 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cavendish, R, “The Provisions of Oxford”, //History Today// 58 (2008) 6, 12 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Labarge, MW, “Simon de Montfort’s Parliament”, //Parliamentary Affairs// 18 (1970) 1, 13-15 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maddicott, JR, //Simon de Montfort// (Cambridge University Press, 1996) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oldenbourg, Z, //Massacre at Montsegur : A history of the Albigensian Crusade// (Phoenix Publishing, 2001) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rooke, P, //Simon de Montfort// (The Simon de Montfort Society, 2008) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rosenthal, JT, “The Second Barons War”, //Speculum// 70 (1995) 4, 933 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stacey, RC, “Untitled Review”, //The English Historical Review// 110 (1995) 438, 940 – 942 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Suppe, FC, “Battle of Evesham”, //Albion// 27 (1995) 4, 647 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">West, E, “Magna Carta, the cornerstone of English history, to be celebrated by Government’s most pro-Brussels minister”, //The Telegraph//, November 15th 2010
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Primary Sources **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Secondary Sources **

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