Henry III: Reform, Rebellion, Civil War, Settlement, 1259-1272 (Volume 2)

by David Arscott Carpenter

The second volume in the definitive history of Henry III’s rule, covering the revolutionary events between 1258 and the king’s death in 1272
 
After coming to the throne aged just nine, Henry III spent much of his reign peaceably. Conciliatory and deeply religious, he created a magnificent court, rebuilt Westminster Abbey, and invested in soft power. Then, in 1258, the king faced a great revolution. Led by Simon de Montfort, the uprising stripped him of his authority and brought decades of personal rule to a catastrophic end. In the brutal civil war that followed, the political community was torn apart in a way unseen again until Cromwell.
 
Renowned historian David Carpenter brings to life the dramatic events in the last phase of Henry III’s momentous reign. Carpenter provides a fresh account of the king’s strenuous efforts to recover power and sheds new light on the characters of the rebel de Montfort, Queen Eleanor, and Lord Edward—the future Edward I. A groundbreaking biography, Henry III illuminates as never before the political twists and turns of the day, showing how politics and religion were intimately connected.

Genres: History, Biography, Medieval

728 pages, Hardcover

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

David Arscott Carpenter is an English historian, currently Professor of Medieval History at King's College London. He has written widely on the reign of Henry III.

David Carpenter is Professor of Medieval History at King’s College London and an expert in thirteenth-century England. He has published extensively on politics and society in the reigns of King John and Henry III as well as on the context, issue and reception of Magna Carta. His book The Struggle for Mastery: Britain 1066-1284 is widely read by scholars, students and the general public. Professor Carpenter has been tracing versions of Magna Carta 1215 for the Magna Carta Project and is currently preparing a book on the Charter for Penguin.

Reviews

[Matthew Welker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing finish of Carpenter’s two whole volumes on Henry III. I’ve read most of the Yale books for the monarchs in the medieval period of England and I’ll have to say that Carpenter’s comprehensive two books are among the best if not the best.

This is Carpenter’s magnum opus. While volume 2 is lengthy, there’s a lot that happens in this remaining 14 years of Henry’s life/reign. Really enjoyed not just learning about one of England’s more underrated king, but also plenty of the other figures like Prince Edward & Edmund, Simon de Montfort, Gilbert de Clare, and so on.

The overall 2 volumes on Henry III by David Carpenter are the definitive books to read on Henry III.

[Simon Chipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Covers alot, and the author himself says that this has been done at the expense of it being briefer and more accessible. However, by the end of these two volumes you are left with a thorough understanding of the man and his times. The aspects of the book covering De Montfort and the coming Edward I, as well as the subject himself, are really strong

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second and final volume in the author's look at the life of Henry III. This review feels a lot like my review of the first book. There is simply way too much information here for it to be enjoyable to read to a casual reader of the time period. There were times, I confess, where I was outright bored.

In the first book, the author covers a period of a period of fifty-one years in seven hundred pages. I thought that was tough going. In this volume, the author covers a period substantially smaller, sixteen years, in just as many pages. The author clearly recognizes this as he mentions it in his author's note. It is an exhaustive account of the latter part of Henry III's reign.

My favorite bit of the book was actually the end. I find the deaths, funerals, and burials of these medieval kings highly interesting, and to that end, the book did not disappoint.

As I finished with this series on a previously little known or understood king, I came away a bit shell-shocked. A lot of info was poured out. And sadly, because of the pacing and just the sheer amount of detail, I retained very little.

[Chris Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Carpenter's Henry III: Reform, Rebellion, Civil War, Settlement, 1258-1272 (Volume 2) is a captivating and scholarly triumph. This vivid account of Henry III's turbulent later reign brings the 13th century to life. Carpenter expertly details the 1258 uprising, Simon de Montfort's rebellion, and the gripping Battles of Lewes and Evesham. His clear, engaging prose balances Henry's personal virtues with his political flaws, offering a nuanced portrait. Thematic chapters on society and reforms add rich context, making this accessible for all readers. At 700+ pages, it feels concise and compelling. A definitive biography, this is a must-read for medieval history fans. Highly recommended!

[Mark Bowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second volume lives up entirely to the standard of the first. in the preface Carpenter says rather apologetically that he is an academic rather than a popular historian - hurrah for that. I was compelled to keep turning the pages because of Carpenter's concern for delving down into the detail. It is powerful stuff. (I was slightly disappointed that the siege of Pevensey Castle is barely mentioned but that is a very minor gripe.) The portraits created here of Henry and of Simon de Montfort and the other leading figures are balanced and compelling.

[Russell Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Long awaited second volume, concluding the merits of this rather obscure king set between the infamous King John and the Hammer of the Scots.