Scherek Arbol » Simon 6th Earl Leicester de Montfort (1208-1265)

Personal data Simon 6th Earl Leicester de Montfort 

• He was born in the year 1208 in Durex, France.
• He died in the year 1265, he was 57 years old.
• A child of Simon 5th Earl Leicester de Montfort

Household of Simon 6th Earl Leicester de Montfort

He had a relationship with Eleanor of Leicester Plantagenet.

Child(ren):

1. Richard FitzSimon de Montfort  1249-1281 

Notes about Simon 6th Earl Leicester de Montfort

Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (c. 1208–1265), was a French-born English nobleman who led the baronial opposition to King Henry III, becoming de facto ruler of England after the Second Barons' War and summoning the first directly elected Parliament, making him a key figure in the development of English democracy before being killed at the Battle of Evesham. He married King Henry III's sister, Eleanor, and, despite initial royal favor, eventually spearheaded a movement to limit royal power, establishing new governance structures before his defeat and death.
De Montfort was King Henry III’s friend and counsellor. He was married to the king’s sister, Eleanor of England and he was godfather to Prince Edward (later Edward I). But in 1239 Simon and Henry fell out and Henry threatened to imprison him in the Tower of London. For several years, despite discontent, Simon joined King Henry’s various campaigns and in 1253 chose to make peace with the King in obedience to the dying Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln. By 1261, following two parliaments that Henry failed to adhere to, de Montfort left the country in despair. In 1263 he was invited to return to England by the barons who were convinced of the King’s hostility to all reform. De Montfort led a rebellion with the objective of reforming the government. This was successful for a time, but Prince Edward used bribes to turn many of the barons against de Montfort. In 1264 civil war broke out.

Simon de Montfort, a seasoned Crusader and successful military leader with a reputation for brutality, led the rebellion against King Henry III during the Second Barons’ War and subsequently became de facto ruler of England following success at the Battle of Lewes. During his rule he called two famous parliaments. The first stripped the king of unlimited authority, the second included ordinary citizens from the towns. Then there was the Battle of Evesham in 1265. De Montfort was brutally killed and hailed a hero by many who then attempted to have him canonised, and so turned into a Saint. This was prevented by Henry III who had de Montfort's body exhumed and reburied in secret - banning the Cult of de Montfort before it gained momentum.

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Timeline Simon 6th Earl Leicester de Montfort

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