| 1258 | Qtr 1 | The year starts badly |
| | | Because of a series of bad harvests, a wet winter and a late frost, crops were destroyed and cattle starved. People were hungry and dying. |
| Apr | Henry asks for money |
| | | The Pope offered the Sicilian crown for Henry's youngest son Edmund. The pope wanted to add Sicily to the papal dominions. To raise the money required for such an expedition, Henry met Parliament at Westminster. The barons who were not involved in the meeting forced Henry to meet again in June where they wanted Henry to reform the way the county was being run. |
| Apr 12 | Henry is opposed by the Barons |
| | | For many years, Henry had been living beyond the means of the country and with the failure of both harvests and Henry's will to amend his ways, a group of Barons rose up against him. Seven Barons first signed an oath and formed a commune in which they swore to look after each others interests. The seven were Richard de Clare (Earl of Gloucester), John Fitz Geoffrey, Roger Bigod (Earl of Norfolk), Hugh Bigod (Roger's brother), Peter of Savoy, Peter de Montfort (not a relation of Simon), and finally Simon de Montfort. |
| Jun | Odiham and Kenilworth handed over to the King |
| | | As an act of faith, Simon de Montfort handed over his castles at Odiham and Kenilworth as part of the proposals put forward in the Provisions of Oxford. |
| Jun | Provisions of Oxford |
| | | The barons and Henry III met at Oxford where fully armed, the barons showed Henry that he had no choice but to reform the way the country was being run. A council of fifteen members was set to to advise the king. The fifteen were selected by a committee of four, two from the barons and two from the king. The new council was not to last long as the members could not agree amongst themselves on courses of action and by 1260 it had broken up. The reformers and royalists were to take up arms and meet in civil war. |
| 1259 | Oct 13 | Provisions of Westminster |
| | | These were a series of reforms made by the council of fifteen created in 1258 at the Provisions of Oxford. |
| Dec 4 | Treaty of Paris/Abbeville |
| | | Also known as the treaty of Abbeville. A treaty between Louis IX of France and Henry III in which Henry agreed to the loss of Normandy, Maine, Anjou and Poitou. These areas had been lost under the reign of King John. Henry was able to keep the lands of Gascony and parts of Aquitaine. This won Henry the support of Louis IX of France against the rebelious Barons back in England. |
| 1263 | | Edward joins Simon de Montfort |
| | | At this time, Edward (to become Edward I), met up with Simon de Montfort and came under his influence. Edward, knights Simon's two eldest sons. This friendship was not to last. |
| | Henry is absolved from the Provisions of Oxford |
| | | Obtaining a papel bull to absolve himself from the Provision of Oxford, Henry hired an army of 300 French knights and took up position in the Tower of London. His objective was to regain the absolute power that the Barons had taken away. Edward joined his father in the Tower. |
| | Edward raids the Temple in London |
| | | On the pretence of removing his mother's jewels, Edward (I) entered the Knights Templar's Temple in London and ransacked the treasurery, taking the proceeds to the Tower of London. |
| Feb | Edward returns to England |
| | | Edward and his wife returned to England |
| Jun | Simon's forces do much damage |
| | | Moving firstly westward from the stonghold of one of Henry's supporters to another, Simon de Montfort's forces did much damage, even though Simon had ordered that no sacred place should be attacked. Simon then moved towards the south east coast ports to secure them. By the end of June he had reached Dover, its inhabitants welcoming him. |
| 1264 | | Pevensey Castle siege |
| | | Following the defeat at the Battle of Lewes, Henry III's supporters fled and took refuge in Pevensey Castle. Simon de Montfort's son, laid siege to the castle, but could not take it. |
| Jan 23 | The Mise of Amiens |
| | | Louis IX held a court at Amiens to decide if Henry should be freed from the obligations forced upon him by the Provisions of Oxford in 1258 by the Barons. Louis agreed that Henry should be freed and ruled against the Barons. |
| May | Henry's war with the Barons |
| | | The civil war between Henry III and the barons. The barons wanted to limit Henry's power and to sort out his finances which were a drain of the barons' resources. The cause was led by Simon de Montfort. |
| May 14 | Battle of Lewes |
| | | Simon de Montfort surprises Henry III and Edward (I), with early movements of his troops on the hills above the castle. Henry and Richard of Cornwall defend the centre and left of the castle, but Edward attacks the lighter armed Londoners to the right and forcing them to flee, follows them off the battle site. When he returns, he finds that Henry is trapped in the priory and gives himself up in exchange for his father's release. |
| Jun | Simon summons Parliament |
| | | From a provisional administration consisting of Simon himself, the Earl of Gloucester and the Bishop of Chichester, a council of 9 were chosen to advise the king. From these 9, 3 were to be with the king at all times. |
| Summer | Edward moved to Kenilworth |
| | | Edward (I) was held captive at Wallingford Castle but after an escape attempt he was moved to Kenilworth Castle. |
| 1265 | Jan 20 | Ordinary people's Parliament |
| | | Simon calls a Parliament where for the first time ordinary people were brought to represent the country. |
| Feb | The Barons split |
| | | The Earl of Gloucester, Gilbert de Clare organised a tournament where Simon's sons were invited to attend. Angry that de Clare could put his sons in a position of danger where a murderer could take advantage, he stopped the games. Simon and Gilbert fall out and Gilbert moves his allegiance to the king causing a split in the Barons loyalties. |
| May | Edward escapes |
| | | Left in custody at Hereford, Edward (I) was rescued and joined Roger Mortimer and Gilbert de Clare at Mortimer castle. |
| Summer | Armies march |
| | | Simon's son was sent to London to raise money and troops. He diverted back through Winchester which was loyal to the king and then moved through Oxford and Northampton. Edward (I) moved from Worcester to Bridgnorth destroying bridges and means of allowing Simon who was on the Welsh side of the Avon from crossing back. The people of Bristol, friendly to Simon's cause sent ships to Newport to help Simon cross, but they were intercepted and destroyed by Edward. Meanwhile, Simon's son was attacked at Kenilworth during the night and taken completely by surprise had no chance to defend himself. |
| Aug 4 | Battle of Evesham |
| | | Using the banners of Simon's son captured forces at Kenilworth, Edward (I) approached Simon's position at Evesham. Simon was hemmed in the bend of the river Avon and forced to fight. Simon was defeated and killed. Simon's youngest son took refuge in Kenilworth castle , where prepared for a long siege, managed to hold out until December 1267. |
| Sep 16 | Peace with the Barons |
| | | After the defeat of Simon de Montfort at Evesham, a limited agreement of peace was declared between Henry and the barons. Some resistance remained at Kenilworth and the Isle of Ely until 1267. |
