Baronial Reform and Revolution in England 1258–1267, ed. Adrian Jobson

Abstract

The present decade has presented rich opportunities for medieval historians to focus on major anniversaries, including, 750 years on, the period of baronial reform and rebellion. This is remembered as being significant for the development of parliament, for the capture of King Henry III at the Battle of Lewes (1264) and for the restoration of royal authority following the defeat of Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, at the Battle of Evesham (1265). As the editor, Adrian Jobson, explains in his introduction to this collection, and Christopher Tilley explores further in his chapter on historiography, the role of Henry III and de Montfort, and key themes such as faction, have been discussed in detail by historians. The volume promises the most recent research into this pivotal period in English political history, focusing on neglected themes and bringing together approaches often taken separately. The results do not disappoint. Central government provides one of the main themes. David Carpenter reveals that much of what happened in 1258 went unproclaimed—a secret revolution. Some reforms were too revolutionary for public knowledge, while others were not revolutionary enough. Meanwhile, Huw Ridgeway shows how, in 1261, Henry III could peacefully overthrow the Provisions of Oxford, having reassembled a united royal family and court, enabling him successfully to counter his opponents without violence, something almost unprecedented in medieval English politics. Nick Barratt takes issue with arguments that the reformers enjoyed even moderate success in financial affairs, noting that they failed to grasp the root cause of the crisis: lack of ready cash. They created a system that was impossible to administer, while underlying problems of thirteenth-century state finance remained unresolved. Adrian Jobson discusses the importance of the sea and access to the channel ports as royalists and Montfortians vied for control, showing that this dictated military and diplomatic strategies adopted on land.