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Henry III (1216-1272)
Henry was born in Winchester on 1st October 1207. His father, King John, died when Henry was nine years old. He was with his family in Corfe Castle, Dorset, when he heard of the death of King John. He was hurried to the nearest suitable abbey, which was Gloucester. There he was crowned on 28th. October 1216. His father had lost the royal crown when his jewels were lost in The Wash. Henry, therefore, had to be crowned using his mother’s torque, which was a necklace made of gold wire. Despite this unfortunate start Henry 111 managed to remain king of England for 56 years. It was during Henry’s reign that the King’s Great Council started to be called Parliament for the first time. The word “Parliament” comes from the French word “parley” meaning to discuss. As Henry was so young, William the Marshal was made the Regent. The first problems of the reign were the wars left from the time of King John. Prince Louis V111 of France had invaded England, encouraged by the English barons. King Alexander 11 of Scotland had also invaded the land. There was a rebellion in North Wales led by Prince Llewellyn. This was the First Barons’ War. First, Louis of France was defeated at the Battles of Lincoln and Sandwich in 1217. Then the Welsh and Scots returned home. But that was not the end of trouble for Henry. All of his reign he had a struggle with the barons. The King had to submit to the Provisions of Oxford in 1258, which were a set of rules for the government, prepared by the barons. In the Provisions the frequency of Parliamentary meetings was laid down and what Parliament could force the King to do. King Henry agreed to the terms, of the Provisions of Oxford, but had no intention of keeping them. Simon de Montfort was the Earl of Leicester and led the barons.
The Second Barons’ War in 1264 led up to the Battle of Lewes, at which King Henry and his son and heir, Edward, were captured by Simon de Montfort. Edward managed to escape and confronted Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham, where Simon de Montfort was defeated and killed. During Henry’s reign Forest Laws were made very strict. A peasant found killing a hare with a greyhound would have his hand cut off. If it was a wild boar that had been killed, the victim would have an arm cut off. A commoner found with a dead deer would be executed. Henry III died at Westminster on 16th November 1272.
He was buried in Westminster Abbey. 1. With what was Henry crowned?
2. Who was Regent, when Henry was very young?
3. Simon de Montfort was the Earl of……?
4. If your greyhound killed a hare, what would be your punishment?
5. Where was Henry III buried?
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