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Simon de Montford + The Provisions of Oxford (1258) - Coggle Diagram
Simon de Montford + The Provisions of Oxford (1258)
King Henry's problems
The French
King John had lost lots of French land so Henry had to raise money to fund wars - get them back
Unsuccessful at first - then sent brother-in-law Simon de Monetfort who won back land and controlled the area
Reports said de Montfort was too harsh with the French people so Henry sent his son Edward
The Barons
1254 - relationship had deteriorated - angry about his various schemes
Angry that Henry's French family were given jobs in the English Court and Italien clergy were given top jobs in Church
Increased taxes to pay the Pope made then angry - they were the ones that had to pay
The Pope
Very pious king (so had close relationship with Pope IV in Rome)
Pope tried to use Henry to fight wars in Sicily
New Pope threatened to excommunicate Henry when he did not pay the Pope money to fight these wars
Pope wanted Edward's brother, Richard, to become Holy Roman Emperor - Henry would feel pressured to help pay the Pope's wars
The Provisions of Oxford
Simon de Montfort led the Barons to call a Great Council meeting in 1258 - wanted reform
Henry III agreed to the Provisions of Oxford
PoO gave Barons greater power - barons could make decisions without the king's approval but the king couldn't make decisions without the approval of the council
15 barons in charge of the Great Council - 24 - 12 appointed by king, 12 appointed by barons
Reaction
Younger barons annoyed - not elected so lost influence
Lower in society given a greater say
Not everyone agreed (older barons - felt reforms were getting in the way of local interests)
Barons divided
1259 Provisions were extended in the Provisions of Westminster - reformed local government and gave more power to the less powerful and wealthy in society
Second Baronial War
Henry gained the support of barons who did not like de Montfort and the PoO
Henry wrote to the Pope and asked for permission to cancel provisions - 1261 Pope agreed so Henry appointed his own men to the Great Council
Henry ruled badly - after 3 years the barons called up SdM and the 2nd Barons War began
Battle of Lewes 1264 - SdM captured the king and imprisoned son (Edward) - SdM now in charge and England on its way to becoming a republic
The Parliament of 1265 and the first 'Commons'
SdM created a council of nine closest friends and allies
Reconfirmed Magna Carta and PoO
Barons started to worry that he became too powerful
1265 SdM called a meeting of the Great Council inviting rich merchants and knights - meant he had secured support from ordinary people (commons)
This developed democracy in England - paved way for everyone to have a voice
Battle of Evesham 1265
Barons began to get concerned that SdM was becoming an autocrat so put their support behind Henry
Edward had been released from prison and had raised an army
4 August 1265 - SdM fell from his horse - body cut and spread around country as a warning - monarchy was now back
Significance of the Parliament of 1265
Short term
Henry III ruled until 1272 but never called another Great Council meeting - when Edward became king he called many parliaments
1295 Edward called the Model Parliament - first parliament that resembled ours today - invited aristocrats, elected commoners
Medium term
King's power challenged again in 1649 - death of Charles I and start of English Revolution (republic governed)
King's power not totally changed until Glorious Revolution 1688 and 1689 Bill of Rights (parliament gained more control than monarch)
Long term
1840s - Chartists campaigned for representation of working class
Women waited a long time for their voices to be heard
Today
Monarch is a figurehead with no direct influence over the government