By the 1250s and 1260s, dissatisfaction among the English barons had intensified. The nobility was frustrated by Henry’s favoritism toward foreign advisers, mismanagement of finances, and autocratic style of governance. His repeated failures to heed the advice of his barons and implement reforms aggravated tensions.
The Provisions of Oxford and the Road to Rebellion
In 1258, under pressure, Henry III agreed to the Provisions of Oxford, a set of constitutional reforms that limited royal power and established a council of barons to oversee governance. This council was meant to curb the king’s unilateral decisions, especially regarding fiscal and administrative matters.
However, Henry later sought to annul the provisions, leading to a breakdown in trust between the monarchy and the barons. The Pope sided with the king, further undermining the reforms.
Simon de Montfort: The Leader of the Reformist Barons
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, was a French-born nobleman who had married Henry III’s sister, Eleanor. Initially loyal to the king, Montfort became the figurehead of baronial opposition due to his advocacy for reform and good governance.
Montfort’s charisma, political acumen, and commitment to limiting royal absolutism earned him many followers among the disgruntled English barons and common people. shutdown123