On 7 January 1238 Henry III set off a firestorm by marrying his sister Eleanor to faithful councilor Simon de […]
Never to perjurers and apostates
England drifted towards civil war in late 1263 as Henry III reclaimed more of the machinery of government from Simon […]
The two Eleanors
On 28 October 1265, nearly three months after her husband and son fell at Evesham, Eleanor de Montfort handed over […]
Thomas Fitz-Thomas
Two months after Evesham, 4 October 1265, the mayor of London, Thomas Fitz-Thomas, knew there was no putting it off […]
Evesham, for battle it was none
The battle of Evesham, which was fought under a dark, rainless cloud 750 years ago this day, truly changed everything. […]
London Bridge is Falling Down
As Simon de Montfort’s army approached in July 1263, Queen Eleanor (of Provence) had no intention of capitulating like her […]
The Ordinance of 1264
On 28 June 1264 an ordinance was sealed by Parliament following the victory of the Montfortian party at Lewes six […]
Prelude to the great parliament
June 22 was the date set “at the latest” for the great Parliament of 1264 to meet and discuss a […]
Wheel of Fortune
On 14 June 1261 Henry III was at Winchester, the city of his birth, to proclaim that Pope Alexander IV […]
The Savior and the Changeling
The Song of Lewes is arguably the first great masterpiece of political literature in England and yet its composition in […]
Robin of Flimwell
On May 2nd in 1264 Henry’s favorite cook named Thomas was killed by an unseen archer while riding out ahead […]
England’s first political party
With UK elections less than two weeks away, it should be noted that on 25 April, in 1263, Simon de […]
Seizing the initiative
With the war being lost after the loss of Northampton, Montfort knew he needed to draw the king’s forces south […]
London’s Kristallnacht
The ease with which Northampton fell generated rumors that traitors were at work, and in London, as in any city […]
And all our yesterdays
It couldn’t be put off any longer. On 1 April 1265 Simon and his retinue left Odiham, destination Northampton, meant […]
The final gathering
It was on 19 March 1265 that Simon arrived at Odiham for what would be the last time the Montfort […]
King “during pleasure”
On this day 750 years ago the mayor of London, Thomas Fitz-Thomas, led the aldermen of that city to St. […]
Irresistible
On this day 750 years ago, Parliament concluded in Westminster Hall with a ceremony handing the Lord Edward over to […]
Salute to Eleanor de Montfort
Marking this International Women’s Day with a salute to Eleanor de Montfort, whose vital role in her husband’s government can […]
Progress
Three new articles have rounded out the tour so far, including the view that Montfort’s contribution to the development of […]
The world of Templars
Today the virtual book tour comes to the blogspot of John Paul Davis, the author of The Gothic King (Henry III) whose other […]
Virtual book tour
The virtual tour for With All For All kicks off today at Medievalists.net with me explaining why a book on Simon de […]
The gathering crisis
On this date, 16 February 1265, Simon had to move to avert a crisis over a tournament proposed between his […]
Valentine’s Day
On this day in 1265, Henry III and his son Lord Edward stood in the chapter house of Westminster Abbey, which […]