barons war

Military History
148

Battle for Magna Carta: The First Barons’ War, 1215-1217

King John’s reign was a disaster – but, as Stephen Roberts reveals in the second of two articles about early civil wars, it left as its legacy one of the most important agreements in English history.

Left A 19th century etching depicting the death of Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham.

Military History
132

‘For battle it was none’: the murder of Evesham, 1265

It was a battle that changed the course of English history – at which the royalist forces of King Henry III won a famous victory over the rebellious barons led by Simon de Montfort. But the events of 4 August 1265 are ripe for reappraisal, says Stephen Roberts.