Simon de Montfort the Younger
Simon de Montfort | |
|---|---|
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| Born | April 1240 |
| Died | 1271 (aged 30–31) |
| Parents |
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Simon VI[a]de Montfort(April 1240 – 1271), known asSimon de Montfort the Younger,was the second son ofSimon de Montfort, 6th Earl of LeicesterandEleanor of England.
His father and his elder brotherHenrywere killed at theBattle of Eveshamin August 1265. The younger Simon had been slow to bring his forces from London, and had seen them and their banners captured byPrince Edward,who then used the banners to trick Simon's father. He arrived at Evesham just in time to see his father's head atop a pike. The younger Simon tried to raise a rebellion inLincolnshire,but this petered out by Christmas.[citation needed]
In 1266, Simon and his supporters were now stuck inKenilworth Castle,which was previously owned by his father. Having promised to surrender the castle to KingHenry III of England,Simon later changed his mind and so the King decided to besiege the castle on 21 June. TheSiege of Kenilworthlasted six months, making it one of the longest sieges ever conducted on the British Isles. Simon surrendered the castle to the King on 14 December.[citation needed]
After the surrender at Kenilworth, Simon and his younger brotherGuyescaped to France and Italy. In 1271 they discovered and murdered their cousinHenry of Almain(whom they blamed for the death of their father) at the church inViterbo,for which they were excommunicated. Simon died later that year fromToscana virusatSiena,"cursed by God, a wanderer and a fugitive".[citation needed]
Notes[edit]
aAlternatively Simon VII. The discrepancy in numbering arises from confusion betweenSimon III de Montfort(died 1181) and his sonSimon de Montfort (died 1188).The latter was historically unknown, and Simon III was believed to be the father (not the grandfather)[1]of the crusaderSimon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester,who is therefore known as Simon IV in some sources[2]and Simon V in others.[3]
References[edit]
- ^Cokayne, G. E.(1929).The Complete Peerage.Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). London: St Catherine Press. p.716.
- ^Phillips, Charles."Battle of Toulouse".Encyclopædia Britannica Online.Retrieved5 June2019.
- ^Lippiatt, G. E. M. (2017).Simon V of Montfort and Baronial Government, 1195-1218.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780198805137.
Bibliography[edit]
- .Dictionary of National Biography.London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.