Battle of Evesham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Evesham |
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| Part of Second Barons' War | |||||||
 Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, in rebellion against Henry III, dies at the Battle of Evesham. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Royal forces | Baronial forces Kingdom of Gwynedd |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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 Humphrey de Bohun, 2nd Earl of Hereford |
.png){kind=small} Peter de Montfort † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| c. 10,000 | c. 5,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Few | Nearly 4,000 | ||||||
The Battle of Evesham was a major battle fought in England on August 4, 1265. It was a key event in the Second Barons' War, a conflict between King Henry III and a group of powerful nobles called barons. The battle saw the defeat of Simon de Montfort, the leader of the rebellious barons. His forces were defeated by the royal army, led by Prince Edward, who later became King Edward I. The battle took place near the town of Evesham in Worcestershire.
Simon de Montfort had gained control of the government after winning the Battle of Lewes a year earlier. However, he soon faced challenges as some of his allies left him. Prince Edward, the King's son, also escaped from de Montfort's custody. This forced de Montfort to fight the royal army at Evesham. His army was much smaller, about half the size of the royal forces. The battle quickly became a one-sided fight, and de Montfort was killed. This event largely brought back the King's power, though some fighting continued until 1267.
Contents
Why Did the Battle of Evesham Happen?
Simon de Montfort, the 6th Earl of Leicester, had become very powerful in England. He had even captured King Henry III, Prince Edward, and the King's brother. But his power began to weaken when important allies left his side.
Key Allies Change Sides
In February 1265, Robert de Ferrers, the Earl of Derby, was arrested. Then, in May, Gilbert de Clare, the Earl of Gloucester, joined the King's side. With Gloucester's help, Prince Edward managed to escape from de Montfort.
De Montfort's Alliance with Wales
With many lords in the Welsh Marches (border areas) now against him, de Montfort sought help from Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the Prince of Wales. Llywelyn agreed to help. In return, he wanted his title as Prince of Wales to be fully recognized. He also wanted to keep any lands he won in battle. While this alliance brought some military help, the big promises de Montfort made to Llywelyn made him less popular in England.
Prince Edward's Strategy
Meanwhile, Prince Edward began to take action. He attacked the town of Gloucester, which fell on June 29. De Montfort's plan was to join forces with his son, Simon the Younger. Then they would fight the royal army together. However, Simon the Younger moved very slowly from London.
De Montfort eventually reached Kenilworth, a stronghold for the barons. But Edward attacked his forces there, causing heavy losses. Many of de Montfort's soldiers were staying outside the castle walls. From Kenilworth, Prince Edward moved south.
On August 4, Edward used a clever trick. He used many banners captured at Kenilworth. This made de Montfort think his son's reinforcements were arriving. Instead, Edward trapped de Montfort near the River Avon. He blocked the only bridge, forcing de Montfort to fight without his son's army. When de Montfort realized he was tricked, he reportedly said: "How skilfully they are advancing. Our bodies are theirs, our souls are God's."
How the Battle of Evesham Was Fought
The royal army learned from their earlier defeat at the Battle of Lewes. They took a strong position on high ground. This was on a ridge called Green Hill, just north of Evesham. Prince Edward placed his forces on the left side, and Gloucester commanded the right.
The Armies Prepare
Around eight in the morning, de Montfort's army left Evesham. A big thunderstorm began at the same time. At Lewes, de Montfort's soldiers had worn white crosses to show their divine purpose. This time, the royal army wore red crosses as their symbol. A writer named William Rishanger said that when de Montfort saw the royal troops, he exclaimed, "They have not learned that for themselves, but were taught it by me." This meant he believed they copied his tactics.
The Fight Begins
De Montfort's army had about 5,000 soldiers. The royal army had about 10,000. Facing such unequal numbers, de Montfort decided to focus his attack on the center of the enemy's line. He hoped to break through their formation.
At first, this tactic worked. However, the baronial forces soon lost their advantage. The Welsh foot soldiers, provided by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, were not reliable. They left the battle early on. The royal army's flanks then closed in, surrounding de Montfort's men. With de Montfort's army outnumbered and on bad ground, the battle quickly became a massacre.
A Brutal End
The royalists remembered their defeat at Lewes. They fought with great anger and bitterness. Because of this, many of the rebellious barons were killed on the battlefield. They were not taken prisoner and held for ransom, which was the usual custom. This was a very bloody event for the nobles. De Montfort's son, Henry, was killed first. Then Simon de Montfort himself lost his horse and died fighting. King Henry III, who was still de Montfort's prisoner and dressed in his colors, was almost killed by accident. He was saved by Roger de Leybourne, a former rebel who had switched sides.
What Happened After the Battle?
After de Montfort's defeat, the royalists wanted to punish the rebels. At a meeting of the Parliament in Winchester in September 1265, all rebels lost their lands. Even though Simon de Montfort the Younger's uprising in Lincolnshire ended by Christmas, some resistance continued.
The Siege of Kenilworth Castle
The main problem was the rebel garrison at Kenilworth Castle. This castle was almost impossible to capture. A siege began in the summer of 1266, but it seemed hopeless. By the end of October, the royals created a new agreement called the Dictum of Kenilworth. This allowed rebels to buy back their lands. The price depended on how involved they were in the rebellion.
The defenders of Kenilworth Castle first refused this offer. But by the end of the year, conditions inside the castle became unbearable. In 1267, they finally agreed to the Dictum.
The End of the War
The Battle of Evesham and the events that followed were very important. They ended the major opposition from the barons during King Henry III's rule. England then entered a time of peace and progress that lasted until the early 1290s.
Images for kids
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Simon de Montfort's death at the Battle of Evesham.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Evesham para niños
