Barons War

Barons' War. The misgovernment of Henry III., and the multitude of foreigners he had appointed to high posts in Church and State caused his barons to arrange a scheme for his control by a commission from among their own number (by the Provisions of Oxford, accepted by the king in 1258). The disputes between the king and this baronial council culminated in war in 1263. After two ineffectual attempts at settlement, the Battle of Lewes, May 14,1264, resulted in a victory for the barons, and was followed by the summons by their leader. Simon de Montfort, of the first true English Parliament, containing representatives of all classes of the people. Divisions among the barons, however, led to the total defeat of Simon de Montfort at Evesham, August 4th, 1265. The war lasted on for two years, however; Kenilworth surrendered in 1266, and Ely, which had been seized for the barons in that year, was taken in 1267. Its capture by Prince Edward (afterwards Edward I.) ended the war.