Simon de Monfort and his Parliamentum

Simon de Monfort and his Parliamentum. One of the riots that took place in the period of Henry s reign was the rebellion of Simon de Monfort, the earl of Leicester.

He came out against the king and the intervention of the Catholic Church. This event of AD 1265 was described by a monk Matthew, of Westminster Abbey. The chronicler was by no means sympathetic to the rebellion. The prominence of the event is because the parliament summoned by Simon was seen, with some exaggeration, by 19th century historians, as the first modern parliament. Trying not to loose his opportunity to gain authority and power, Simon de Monfort and the barons collected the troops, both of the Londoners, whose army had increased to fifteen thousand men, and of men from other parts in countless numbers, marched with great impetuosity and courage. Accordingly, they encamped at Flexinge, in Sussex, which is about six miles from Lewes, and three days before the battle they addressed a message to the king where they said that they were ready for war because they wanted to preserve safety and security of the country and to defend it from the enemies it is plain from much experience that those who are present with you have suggested to your highness many falsehoods respecting us, intending all the mischief that they can do But the king, as well as his son Richard, by the grace of God, king of the Romans, always Augustus, and Edward, the illustrious eldest son of the king of England, despising this letter from his barons, was eager for war with all his heart, and sent them back the letter of defiance since you have wickedly attacked our nobles and others our faithful subjects, who have constantly preserved their fidelity to us, and since you still design to injure them as far as in your power, as you have signified to us by your letters, wedefy you, as the enemies of us and them. Witness my hand, at Lewes, on the Twelfth Day of May, in the forty-eighth year of our reign.

As, therefore, God did by no means admit of their coming to agreement, a most terrible battle took place between them, at Lewes, on the fourteenth of May, such as had never been heard of in past ages. Henry III and his son lost the battle and were taken prisoners.

Later Edward, as the price of his release, gave his palatine county of Chester to Simon. Meanwhile Simon de Monfort called a meeting of barons, knights, and townspeople to help him restore peace and order.

This meeting was called PARLIAMENTUM. But it was a flop because dissidence took place among the members, and using it, Edward attacked Simon and his army and defeated them. The triumph of the earl of Leicester didn t last long but it was a basis to build the first parliament on. It is wrong from my point of view to deny the importance of the events described above and of the personality of Simon.