Henry III (1207-1272) was a king of England. He was only 9 years old when he succeeded his father, King John, in 1216. During Henry’s childhood, a small group of barons governed. Henry’s personal rule officially began in 1227, but he did not actually take control of the government until 1234.
As king, Henry enraged English barons by favoring foreign advisers, waging war unsuccessfully in France and Wales, planning to conquer Sicily, and accumulating large debts. In 1258, the barons forced Henry to accept the Provisions of Oxford, which limited the king’s power by putting a council of barons in control of the government. Henry and his supporters struggled for control of the government with the barons, who were led by Simon de Montfort. In 1264, civil war broke out between the two sides.
Simon de Montfort defeated the king’s forces at Lewes in 1264 and took Henry and Henry’s son Edward prisoner. In May 1265, Edward escaped. In August, he led the king’s supporters to victory over Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham, in which Simon was killed. Henry regained power and remained king until his death on Nov. 16, 1272. Henry was born on Oct. 1, 1207, in Winchester.
