10 Facts About Simon de Montfort (2024)

Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester was a favourite of King Henry III until they fell out and Simon rebelled. He has long had a reputation as the founder of the House of Commons and the father of parliamentary democracy. Here are 10 facts about this fascinating character.

1. Simon came from a famous French crusading family

Simon de Montfort was born around 1205 at Montfort-l’Amaury. His father, also named Simon, took part in the Fourth Crusade and led the Albigensian Crusade in France against the Cathars. Simon Senior died at the Siege of Toulouse in 1218, and his third son Guy was killed in 1220. Simon Senior is often considered one of the greatest generals in medieval Europe.

2. Simon arrived in England in 1229 seeking his fortune

As a second son, Simon did not receive any of his father’s inheritance. Part of the family’s collection of titles was the earldom of Leicester in England and this caused a problem for his older brother Amaury. England and France were at war, and it proved impossible to give homage to both kings, so Amaury agreed to give the English part of his inheritance to Simon. It took until 1239 before Simon was officially created Earl of Leicester.

Simon de Montfort was a member of the English peerage, who led opposition to King Henry III. He played a major role in the constitutional development of the country and remains an important figure in British history.

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3. He expelled Jews from his lands as a propaganda stunt

In 1231, Simon issued a document that expelled all Jews from the half of Leicester in his possession. It prevented their return:

‘in my time or in the time of any of my heirs to the end of the world’, ‘for the good of my soul, and for the souls of my ancestors and successors’.

There appears to have been very few Jews in the part of Leicester covered by the order. Simon implemented the measure to curry favour as a new lord.

4. Simon married the king’s sister

Simon became a favourite of King Henry III. In 1238, Henry oversaw the marriage of his sister Eleanor to Simon, despite the widowed Eleanor taking a vow of chastity.

By August 1239, Simon was out of favour. According to the chronicler Matthew Paris, Henry ranted that: “You seduced my sister before marriage, and when I found it out, I gave her to you in marriage, although against my will, in order to avoid scandal.”

When Simon defaulted on his debts, it emerged that he had used the king’s name as security.

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5. Simon went on crusade while in disgrace

After leaving England, Simon joined the Barons’ Crusade. His brother Amaury was a prisoner and Simon negotiated his release. His participation allowed him to continue the family’s strong crusading tradition. When he returned to France, he was asked to act as regent of France while King Louis IX was on crusade. Simon refused, preferring to return to England to try and patch up his relationship with Henry.

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Simon de Montfort (Image Credit: E-Mennechet in Le Plutarque, 1835 / Public Domain).

6. Simon was a problematical Seneschal of Gascony

On 1 May 1247, Simon was appointed Seneschal of Gascony. In January 1249, Henry grumbled that the nobles there complained that Simon was too harsh. Two years later, Simon appeared at Henry’s court in ‘inglorious haste’, with three squires, riding ‘horses worn out with hunger and work’. Gascony was in open rebellion. Henry sent him back to restore order.

In May 1252, Simon was recalled, and Henry threatened to put him on trial for mismanagement, but Simon reminded the king he could not be sacked. When Henry replied that he was not bound by an oath made to a traitor, Simon roared ‘Were thou not my king it would be an ill hour for you’. In August 1253, Henry III took an army to Gascony himself and enjoyed one of his few military victories, restoring his authority in the region.

7. Simon tricked the royal army at the Battle of Lewes

The Second Barons’ War began in 1264, and Simon was the natural leader. Support grew, but there was anti-Semitic violence in London and elsewhere. He led an army south, meeting the king at Lewes on 14 May 1264.

Simon had broken his leg in a riding accident several months earlier and travelled in a covered carriage. When fighting began, Prince Edward charged the carriage. When he reached it and opened the door, Edward was infuriated to find Simon was not there. He assaulted the London contingent until they broke and fled.

Simon was on the other side of the battlefield and attacked Henry’s position. By the time Edward returned from his pursuit, the field was lost. Henry and Edward were taken captive.

David Carpenter joined Dan on the podcast to examine one of England's most remarkable monarchs. Just nine years old when he came to the throne in 1216, David explains how Henry was pacific, conciliatory, and deeply religious. His rule was constrained by limits set by the Magna Carta and the emergence of parliament.

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8. Simon was not really the father of parliamentary democracy

Simon de Montfort enjoys a reputation as the father of modern parliamentary democracy. He summoned parliament to meet on 20 January 1265 at Westminster. Representatives of towns were to be elected alongside knights, leading to his reputation as the creator of the House of Commons.

The word parliament first appeared in 1236, and knights had been elected to sit in 1254, when burgesses may have attended too. Most towns and cities, such as York and Lincoln, sent two representatives while the Cinque Ports, supporters of Simon, were allowed to send four.

Simon picked up threads of what had been evolving over the previous decades to create a parliament that would support him. The one initiative in his parliament was asking members for opinion and input on political matters rather than merely to approve taxation.

9. Simon’s head became a gruesome trophy

Simon’s ascendancy did not last long. He attracted criticism for excluding others from power and handing castles, money, and offices to his sons. Prince Edward made a daring escape from custody and raised an army to free his father. Edward rode to meet Simon at Evesham.

When the fighting began, Edward appointed a dozen knights to act as a death squad with orders to hunt down Simon. He was quickly killed, Henry III was recovered and freed, but Simon’s body was mutilated. His limbs and genitals were hacked off and his corpse beheaded.

Roger Mortimer claimed the head as a trophy and sent it home to Wigmore Castle as a gift for his wife, Maud. It would have been a conversation piece on the mantle.

10 Facts About Simon de Montfort (7)

Death and mutilation of Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham. (Image Credit: British Library Cotton MS Nero D ii, f. 177 (date: late 13th century) / Public Domain).

10. De Monfort University, Leicester may change its name

When Leicester Polytechnic became a university in 1992, it selected the name De Montfort University to celebrate Simon de Montfort’s links with the city and his pioneering work in parliament.

The Student Union announced in 2020 that it will endeavour to secure the changing of this name. The campaign centres on Simon’s reputation as an anti-Semite, and his expulsion of Jews from Leicester in 1231.

Today, such views are rightly considered unacceptable, but Simon was not out of step with his contemporaries on this issue. Over a hundred Jews were massacred in York in 1190, and in 1290, Edward I would expel all Jews from England. Papal Bulls frequently discriminated against Jews. This is, perhaps, the intrinsic danger of naming an institution after a medieval rebel. He held views that are repulsive today, and he was not all that history has remembered him for.

10 Facts About Simon de Montfort (2024)

FAQs

What are some interesting facts about Simon de Montfort? ›

De Montfort travelled to England to claim the lands and title of Leicester, through indirect inheritance from his grandmother and uncle. He was granted the patrimony and was titled earl from around 1239. De Montfort became a favourite of King Henry III and in 1238 married the king's sister Eleanor.

Who was Simon de Montfort short note? ›

Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (23 May 1208 – 4 August 1265) was a Franco-English nobleman. He inherited the title and estates of the earldom of Leicester in England. He led a rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263–64. He became the de facto ruler of England.

What happened to Simon de Montfort in 1258? ›

Montfort used his victory to set up a government based on the provisions first established at Oxford in 1258. Henry retained the title and authority of King, but all decisions and approval now rested with his council, led by Montfort and subject to consultation with parliament.

Why was Simon de Montfort a hero? ›

As a hero, de Montfort was pivotal in the development of parliamentary democracy, leading the rebellion against King Henry III to establish the first English Parliament in 1265, which allowed commoners and nobles to have a voice in governance.

What are some interesting facts about the name Simon? ›

Simon is a given name, from Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן Šimʻôn, meaning "listen" or "hearing". It is also a classical Greek name, deriving from an adjective meaning "flat-nosed". In the first century AD, Simon was the most popular male name for Jews in Roman Judea.

What are some fun facts about St Louis de Montfort? ›

In 1693, at the age of 20, Louis chose to begin seminary in Paris. He adopted the life of a mendicant, deciding to walk the entire 230 miles to Paris. He arrived with the tattered outward appearance of a poor beggar, and the inward disposition of one completely surrendered to God's will.

Who did Simon de Montfort fight? ›

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.

How long did Simon de Montfort rule? ›

Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester (born c. 1208, Montfort, Ile-de-France, France—died Aug. 4, 1265, Evesham, Worcestershire, Eng.) was the leader of the baronial revolt against King Henry III and ruler of England for less than a year.

Was Simon de Montfort religious? ›

He had strong religious convictions and close friendships with leading intellectuals of the time, connected with Oxford university, who were greatly concerned with political ideas about good government.

What events did Simon de Montfort do? ›

Key events during the life of Simon de Montfort:
YearEvent
1248Quit Seventh crusade to become Governor of Gascony.
1258Simon de Montfort joins the English Barons in opposition to Henry III.
1263Initiated the Barons War in opposition to Henry III.
1265Died a the Battle of Evensham.
4 more rows

Where does the name de Montfort come from? ›

The de MONTFORTs originated in two locations and are of entirely different stock. The de MONTFORTs of Montfort Sur de Risle in Normandy were Norman and the hereditary constables of Normandy. Their ancestry can be traced back to the Viking, Oslac.

How did St Louis de Montfort died? ›

Worn out by hard work and sickness, he finally came in April 1716 to Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre to begin the mission which was to be his last. During it, he fell ill and died on 28 April of that year. He was 43 years old, and had been a priest for only 16 years.

What did Simon de Montfort want? ›

Montfort, who called the January Parliament, was the leader of a political faction that sought major reform of the realm. Fed up with Henry's misrule, as they saw it, these barons had confronted the King and, at a parliament in Oxford in 1258, forced him to adhere to a radical programme of reform.

Why is Simon de Montfort known as the father of parliament? ›

Simon De Montfort's Parliament was the first instance of a parliament in which representatives from towns and the shires were summoned together to discuss matters of national concern.

What significant event happened in 1265 during Simon de Montfort's rule? ›

Also summoned were four men from each of the Cinque Ports. The Parliament began on 20th January 1265, and would be the longest of Montfort's leadership. The Parliament was summoned to discuss arrangements for Prince Edward's release.

Was Simon de Montfort Religious? ›

He had strong religious convictions and close friendships with leading intellectuals of the time, connected with Oxford university, who were greatly concerned with political ideas about good government.

What was de Montfort University old name? ›

Leicester Polytechnic officially became De Montfort University on 26 June 1992. The name was chosen to reflect the university's long association with Leicester by commemorating the celebrated Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, a crucial figure in medieval history who established the first parliament in 1265.

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