Rebellion Against Henry III - The Disinherited Montfortians

The Barons' Wars have been a popular period for wargamers in recent years, with playable rules and figure ranges. While I am pretty familiar with these wars and Simon de Montfort, my knowledge tends to come to a halt after the Battle of Evesham in 1265. A battlefield that is well worth a visit. David Pilling's book, Rebellion Against Henry III: The Disinherited Montfortians 1265-1274, opens up a whole new chapter of the conflict, for me at least. 

After Evesham, Henry disinherited the supporters of Simon de Montfort, rewarding his own supporters with their estates. This drove the Montfortians into guerrilla warfare, utilising large areas of woodland, such as Sherwood Forest, or fenlands like the Fens around Ely. Eventually, Henry and his son Edward were forced to compromise through the Dictum of Kenilworth. This allowed the rebels to buy back their lands. 

There wasn't always a coordinated resistance from the Disinherited. They often had different motivations and adopted other tactics. The book covers all the leading players and their actions. Many were unattractive characters, even by the standards of the era. However, their resilience and determination are worthy of remembrance. 

Some, like Sir John Deyville, came from a family with a long history of rebellion. When the Montfort base in Kenilworth was eventually captured, the resistance relocated to Ely and the Fens. The disinherited generally avoided being couped up in castles, as a long siege without the prospects of relief was not a sound option, given the Royalist superiority in numbers. When they held castles, a common tactic was to leave a small garrison while keeping the main force nearby. This copied English tactics in Gascony and Welsh revolts. For example, Kenilworth was held with a modest garrison, while the main force relocated to the isle of Axholme, from where they could attack the besiegers and plunder their lands.

Even Henry's allies on paper could quietly engage in negotiations with rebel groups. The Duke of Gloucester is just one example. All of this had a devastating impact on the English economy, with tax revenues in 1267 at less than a third of those in 1260. 1267 saw a general peace, but the conflict broke out again in 1272. While Edward was on the Crusade, old divisions reopened. When he returned after Henry's death, he defeated some of the rebels and passed the Statute of Westminster in 1275. This crackdown on abuses of local administration and royal authority helped to bring about a wider peace.

One interesting case study in the book relates to the story of Robin Hood. This is traditionally attributed to the reign of Richard I during his Crusade. However, some historians link the story to that of the Disinherited. Sherwood Forest was certainly the base for Disinherited knights like John Deyville and Roger Godberd. The stories of their actions bear a striking resemblance to those of Robin Hood.

For wargamers, this period presents numerous opportunities for games using Lion Rampant. I don't play Barons War, but that would also work.