Rebellion Against Henry III by David Pilling
'Rebellion Against Henry III- The Disinherited Montfortians 1265-1274'- David Pilling
On 4th August 1265 the Second Barons War is said to have ended, with Simon de Montfort and his eldest son Henry , along with some 34 rebel noblemen ,were killed at the Battle of Evesham
( The contemporary ideal of chivalry seemed to be largely overlooked), A rebel army had been caught, trapped and soundly defeated by Lord Edward and the Royalists. Henry III was released from rebel captivity. Mr Pilling's book presents a strong case to argue that Evesham did not end a wider rebellion against the Crown.And very convincing he is too. For a start there were still diehard supporters of Simon de Montfort who were not going to surrender quietly, most notably under the command of Simon de Montfort the Younger at Kenilworth Castle. Furthermore de Montfort's widow Eleanor, held on to Dover Castle, had support in the Cinque Port Towns .
The book demonstrates that the Crown, by insisting on confiscating the estates of the rebel barons, or even those deemed not be loyal enough, and awarding them as prizes to royalist nobility, generated further rebellion by creating 'the Disinherited' : Nobility who were deprived of land and revenue, who could raise knights and foot soldiers, were given no incentive to welcome the return of royal authority which has made them destitute.
To look at just one example out of the many cases Mr Pilling cites, John de Vescy a young rebel baron captured at Evesham, was released by the Crown on payment of a fine, and expected to resume control of his estates, only to find that the Crown had given them to the Count of St Pol, a French nobleman who had supplied the royal army with mercenaries. John de Vescy got together with other disgruntled nobles in the North, and took back his castle at Alnwick by force. The book also reminds the reader that London was punished with a hefty fine and houses owned by leading Montfortians confiscated.
Uprisings led by The Disinherited broke out in Dorset, Somerset, Northumberia, the Weald of Kent, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, parts of East Anglia, and elsewhere. A compromise agreement -The Dictum of Kenilworth of 1266 - reproduced at the end of the book, enabling the Disinherited the right to buy back their estates was only partially successful,. Moreover, an army of The Disinherited took control of London in April 1267. In fact the Second Barons War could be said to have ended with a rebel posse based in Ely, who were leading raids into East Anglia finally being defeated in July 1267. But then Mr Pilling shows that further disorder broke out again in the early 1270's. Lord Edward left England on Crusade in 1270 and did not return until 1274, in the mean time Henry III had died in 1272.
Life stories of leading rebels from The Disinherited are presented. Sir Adam Gurdon, Lord Ferrers, the aforementioned John de Vescy, John Deyville, Baldwin Wake. One appendix covers the trial of lead rebel Roger Godberd There is a chapter about the possible origins of Robin Hood as a member of The Disinherited and a fascinating section on the posthumous relic and miracle cult of Simon de Montfort, drawing comparison with Thomas Earl of Lancaster, leader of a new generation of rebel barons , who was executed by Edward II in 1322 and achieved a similar reverence.
Fascinating to learn how the rebels formed their own networks across the country. Mr Pilling also suggests how the 'ordinary' people are beginning to find their voices, particularly in the section of the book on Sir Adam Gurdon and his West Country following. Also liked the way the book includes accounts from Chronicles and lyrics from popular songs that refer to Simon de Montfort. Overall, an excellent work.
Postscript : Amongst the books that I have purchased and not read yet I have found 'Heirs to Dissent-Political Martyrs and the Cult of Simon de Montfort in the Thirteenth and Early Fourteenth Centuries by Edward Gamble, published by the Simon de Montfort Society.
David Pilling Links
Interview with David Pilling for this blog in December 2019 and can be found here .
Author's blog is at Pillings Writing Corner
Author's Youtube presentation regarding the book
Author's Youtube series on Adam Gurdon ( Outlaw Knight from 'The Disinherited)
Other blogs by Michael Bully
World War 2 Poetry
A Burnt Ship 17th century war & literature blog
On 4th August 1265 the Second Barons War is said to have ended, with Simon de Montfort and his eldest son Henry , along with some 34 rebel noblemen ,were killed at the Battle of Evesham
( The contemporary ideal of chivalry seemed to be largely overlooked), A rebel army had been caught, trapped and soundly defeated by Lord Edward and the Royalists. Henry III was released from rebel captivity. Mr Pilling's book presents a strong case to argue that Evesham did not end a wider rebellion against the Crown.And very convincing he is too. For a start there were still diehard supporters of Simon de Montfort who were not going to surrender quietly, most notably under the command of Simon de Montfort the Younger at Kenilworth Castle. Furthermore de Montfort's widow Eleanor, held on to Dover Castle, had support in the Cinque Port Towns .
The book demonstrates that the Crown, by insisting on confiscating the estates of the rebel barons, or even those deemed not be loyal enough, and awarding them as prizes to royalist nobility, generated further rebellion by creating 'the Disinherited' : Nobility who were deprived of land and revenue, who could raise knights and foot soldiers, were given no incentive to welcome the return of royal authority which has made them destitute.
To look at just one example out of the many cases Mr Pilling cites, John de Vescy a young rebel baron captured at Evesham, was released by the Crown on payment of a fine, and expected to resume control of his estates, only to find that the Crown had given them to the Count of St Pol, a French nobleman who had supplied the royal army with mercenaries. John de Vescy got together with other disgruntled nobles in the North, and took back his castle at Alnwick by force. The book also reminds the reader that London was punished with a hefty fine and houses owned by leading Montfortians confiscated.
Uprisings led by The Disinherited broke out in Dorset, Somerset, Northumberia, the Weald of Kent, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, parts of East Anglia, and elsewhere. A compromise agreement -The Dictum of Kenilworth of 1266 - reproduced at the end of the book, enabling the Disinherited the right to buy back their estates was only partially successful,. Moreover, an army of The Disinherited took control of London in April 1267. In fact the Second Barons War could be said to have ended with a rebel posse based in Ely, who were leading raids into East Anglia finally being defeated in July 1267. But then Mr Pilling shows that further disorder broke out again in the early 1270's. Lord Edward left England on Crusade in 1270 and did not return until 1274, in the mean time Henry III had died in 1272.
Life stories of leading rebels from The Disinherited are presented. Sir Adam Gurdon, Lord Ferrers, the aforementioned John de Vescy, John Deyville, Baldwin Wake. One appendix covers the trial of lead rebel Roger Godberd There is a chapter about the possible origins of Robin Hood as a member of The Disinherited and a fascinating section on the posthumous relic and miracle cult of Simon de Montfort, drawing comparison with Thomas Earl of Lancaster, leader of a new generation of rebel barons , who was executed by Edward II in 1322 and achieved a similar reverence.
Fascinating to learn how the rebels formed their own networks across the country. Mr Pilling also suggests how the 'ordinary' people are beginning to find their voices, particularly in the section of the book on Sir Adam Gurdon and his West Country following. Also liked the way the book includes accounts from Chronicles and lyrics from popular songs that refer to Simon de Montfort. Overall, an excellent work.
Postscript : Amongst the books that I have purchased and not read yet I have found 'Heirs to Dissent-Political Martyrs and the Cult of Simon de Montfort in the Thirteenth and Early Fourteenth Centuries by Edward Gamble, published by the Simon de Montfort Society.
David Pilling Links
Interview with David Pilling for this blog in December 2019 and can be found here .
Author's blog is at Pillings Writing Corner
Author's Youtube presentation regarding the book
Author's Youtube series on Adam Gurdon ( Outlaw Knight from 'The Disinherited)
Other blogs by Michael Bully
World War 2 Poetry
A Burnt Ship 17th century war & literature blog
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