The decisive battle of the Baron's War was fought at Evesham. It ended the bid of Simon de Montfort for better government.
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The Battle of Evesham The decisive battle of the Baron's War was fought at Evesham. It ended the bid of Simon de Montfort for better government. |
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The Battle of Evesham
However, Montfort was undone by his bickering allies, and Prince Edward escaped from captivity to raise the royal standard on the Welsh Marches. Montfort, carting along the King, marched north, intending to join forces with his son at Kenilworth, near Warwick. Edward got there first, routed the younger Montfort, and surprised Simon at Evesham. In a story which is likely apochryphal, Montfort, realising that his army was trapped in a loop of the River Avon by a superior force, said to his aides, "Let us commend our souls to God, because our bodies are theirs". He was right. The Battle Montfort's men charged uphill against the royal lines, but they never stood a chance. Edward's wings pivoted and converged on Montfort's flanks, and the fight quickly became a massacre. Even the fleeing Welsh were cut down or drowned in the river. No quarter was given to the rebels, and the carnage was terrible. Montfort's body was badly mutilated and dispersed to different parts of the kingdom. His torso, at least, was sent to Evesham Abbey, where his tomb became a popular pilgrimage centre. The Results Related More British Battles
History Article and images © 2004
David Ross |
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August 4, 1265 
Evesham, Herefordshire & Worcestershire
an alliance of rebellious barons under Simon de Montfort vs. royal
forces under Prince Edward (later Edward I).
Montfort and his allies rebelled against what they saw as poor government
and excessive spending on foriegn wars by Henry III. Initial success
at the Battle of Lewes gave Montfort practical control of the government,
and he instituted reforms which eventually led to the English Parliamentary
system of government by representation. 
