Simon de Montfort

by J.R. Maddicott

This book provides a new account of one of the most famous men of the English Middle Ages: Simon de Montfort. It is partly a study of the politics of Henry III's reign (1216-72), with which Montfort's career is closely interwoven; but it also looks at his lands, finances, following and religious ideals. Drawing on unusual sources, the author is able to make his biography as much a study of temperament and character as of a political career, and to write with a degree of psychological penetration rare in works on the medieval nobility.

Genres: History, Biography, Medieval, Nonfiction, British Literature, Biography Memoir, Medieval History

432 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 1994

About the author

John Robert Maddicott is an English historian who has published works on the political and social history of England in the 13th and 14th centuries

Reviews

[Poul Ortved · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Delicate Balancing Act

Having read David Carpenter´s excellent two volume work on Henry III, a logical follow-up would be to continue with one of the main characters: Simon de Montfort.
It is obvious that the author has had a Herculean labour in finding a balance between de Montfort's positive and negative qualities. I believe the author has found the right balance although much focus has been attached to religion and de Montfort's relations to the clergy.
However, of particular interest were the chapters 4, 5 and 6, Simon de Montfort's road to reform, The Reformer: ideals and interests, 1258-1259 and The decline of the reform movement, 1260-63 respectively. David Carpenter delineates a detailed and balanced image of a person's psychological ups and downs. Could matters have been different or developed in another direction? The relation between King Henry III and de Montfort seems to have been a serious obstacle and not all of his followers possessed de Montfort's vision on society.

pol/DK-3700 Roenne

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddicott uses primary documents to flesh out his biography of the one man who managed to wrest rule of England from a sitting king in an effort not only to force, what was then, radical change in the way the nation was governed and the liberties afforded the king; but also to force the king to meet de Montfort's personal agenda. Simon de Montfort went to England to regain the lands that had been taken from his family by King John. He became so valuable to Henry III (John's son) that the king gave his sister, Eleanor, in marriage to Simon. Henry, however, failed to satisfy Simon in the matter of Eleanor's dowry. In time that failure became only one in a string of financial and familial obligations in which Simon felt cheated by Henry. Maddicott demonstrates that Simon's (perhaps) overweaning avarice was matched by his moral outrage as de Montfort joined and then became the leader of the rebellion which led to the expulsion of Henry's foreign councilors and advisers--particularly the Lusignans, his half brothers. Maddicott ties in de Montfort's associations with prominent clergy, as well as his other backers, to demonstrate the earl's ability to make and maintain loyalties. At the same time, he shows de Montfort's propensity for self-aggrandisement to be at the root of his various enmities. All in all, the book is readable and informative--though somewhat dry in places--and brings to life a man who ruled (if only briefly) England without benefit of a crown.

[Elena Dil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just too academic and dry for me. Would like Antonia Fraser to rewrite it for me.