December is a tale of two English kings named Henry marching into Paris. The more familiar one has Henry V […]
The Pope and the Monk
This day of 7 December in 1254 saw the death of Sinibaldo Fieschi, otherwise known as Pope Innocent IV. His […]
Getting shafted
In 1947 Noël Denholm-Young published a biography of Richard of Cornwall that is generally considered a classic, but one in […]
Politics and vineyards
Following the Anglo-French peace treaty of 1259, the wine-growing region of Bergerac was much disputed. As the newly created duke […]
Death of Katherine
In August of 1253, King Henry III sailed to Gascony to put down an uprising against his recalled lieutenant Simon […]
Henry’s funeral
Henry was buried on this day of 20 November in 1272. He was dressed in his coronation robes and carried […]
Dedication of Westminster Abbey
The 13th of October marks the feast day of St Edward the Confessor. His cult was promoted extensively during the […]
Death of Grosseteste
This day of 9 October in 1253 saw the passing of Robert Grosseteste, the scholarly but irascible bishop of Lincoln, […]
Dedication of Salisbury Cathedral
Tomorrow, the 1st of October, marks the birth of Henry III in 1207. Notices about it are typically confined to […]
Dedication of Ely Cathedral
This day of 17 September in 1252 saw the dedication of Ely Cathedral as built up to that time by […]
Once pardoned, twice beheaded
It was on this day of 9 September in 1238 that Henry III and Eleanor of Provence were in residence […]
Battle of Evesham
For all its bloodshed, the battle of Evesham, fought on this day of 4 August in 1265, has a certain […]
Henry III and Becket’s shrine
The 7th of July 1220 marks the 800th anniversary of the translation of Thomas Becket, who had been martyred 50 […]
Eleanor of Provence
Eleanor of Provence died on the day of the Nativity of St John the Baptist (24 June) in 1291, age […]
Battle of Lewes
On this day of 14 May in 1264 King Henry III marched out of Lewes to confront the army of […]
Translation of Henry III
On this day 730 years ago the body of Henry III was removed from its resting place under the Cosmati […]
Marriage and Fateful Widowhood
This day of 24 April in 1224 should have seen the start of the honeymoon for Eleanor, the youngest daughter […]
The countess and her children
Eleanor de Montfort, the youngest and once beloved sister of Henry III, died on this day of 13 April in […]
The dower millstone
On this day of 6 April in 1231, William Marshal II, the 40-year-old earl of Pembroke, died suddenly, less than […]
Sneaky Brother Matthew
In his 1958 study of Matthew Paris, Richard Vaughan comes to this conclusion about the prolific chronicler’s portrait of Henry […]
The murder of Evesham continues
In the medieval calendar, 14 March 1271 is a day-after, when the horrific events of the previous day have sunk […]
Henry’s three sisters
Henry III had three younger sisters. They had exceptionally close relationships, and the two sisters that had children, Isabella and […]
Be my elected Valentine
Henry III and Eleanor of Provence are among the most romantic of royal couples, but thanks to them Valentine’s Day […]
Banking too much on the royal goodwill
On this date of 2 February in 1239, Henry III invested Simon de Montfort with the title of earl of […]