Darren Baker

In one of the strangest cases of wishful thinking, medieval historians often bemoan the birth order of King John’s two legitimate sons, Henry and Richard. Had there been a Richard II instead of a Henry III, England would’ve avoided the war that blighted the late part of Henry III’s reign. It’s as much nonsense as the term ‘Second Barons’ War’...

The battle of Evesham, which was fought under a dark, rainless cloud 750 years ago, truly changed everything. It put an end to England’s fledgling constitutional monarchy and wiped out the Montfortian leadership that had imposed it upon the king. The years of strife and uncertainty ushered in by the reforming Provisions of Oxford of 1258 culminated in a slaughter...

On 28 June 1264 an ordinance was sealed by Parliament following the victory of the Montfortian party at Lewes six weeks earlier. It ordained that the king shall dispose of all the business of the realm, whether dispensing patronage or naming Crown officials, with the advice and consent of a council of nine. These nine would be chosen by three...