Henry III 1207-72
King of England

Born in Winchester, the elder son of King John, he became king in 1216. He declared an end to his minority in 1227, and in 1232 he removed his regent, Hubert de Burgh, taking over the administration in 1234. A war with France cost him Poitou, but Louis IX allowed him the rest of his Continental possessions and he was granted the kingdom of Sicily in 1254. His arbitrary assertion of his royal rights conflicted with the principle of Magna Carta, and antagonized many of his subjects, so that in 1258 he was forced to agree to the far-reaching reforms of the Provisions of Oxford, transferring his power to a commission of barons. Louis IX supported him against the barons and Simon de Montfort, and the Provisions were annulled (1263). De Montfort and his party rebelled and imprisoned the king at Lewes (1264), and forced him to the humiliating agreement called the Mise of Lewes. However within a year Gilbert de Clare, 9th Earl of Gloucester, deserted de Montfort, and, with Prince Edward (later Edward I), defeated and killed him at Evesham (1265). The Dictum of Kenilworth (1266), though favourable to Henry, urged him to observe the Magna Carta. Organized resistance ended in 1267, and the rest of his reign was stable. He was succeeded by his elder son, Edward I.

Bibliography: F M Powicke, King Henry III and the Lord Edward (1947)