John Maunsell facts for kids

Sir John Maunsell (c. 1190/1195 – 1265) was a very important person in England during the 1200s. He was a trusted helper to King Henry III. Sir John Maunsell served as the King's chancellor. He was also known as England's first secretary of state. He held many important jobs and helped the King with many big decisions.

Early Life and Background

John Maunsell came from a family with a history of serving important people. His grandfather, Robert Mansel, was a brave knight. He fought in a group called the Knights Templar in a place called Palestine. Robert even led a small group of soldiers to defeat a much larger enemy army.

John's father, Walter, was a deacon, which is a type of church official. John Maunsell first became known around 1215. He was sent from Scotland to speak for the King of Scotland at the English court.

Because his father was a deacon, there were questions about John's birth status. However, Pope Innocent IV and later Pope Alexander IV made a special ruling. This ruling allowed John to become a priest and take on church roles. This was important for his career.

Church Roles and Power

John Maunsell became a favorite of the young King Henry III. The King wanted to give him a church position in Thame. However, a bishop named Robert Grosseteste disagreed. He believed in strict church rules.

Even though there was a disagreement, Maunsell eventually got a different, even better church position in Maidstone. John Maunsell ended up holding more church jobs than almost anyone else at that time. These jobs, called benefices, gave him a lot of income.

His many church roles included being the Provost of Beverley Minster. He was also Chancellor of St. Paul's in London. He served as a chaplain to both the Pope and the King.

Military and Political Actions

Sir John Maunsell was not just a churchman; he was also a fighter. In 1238, he fought alongside English soldiers in Italy. They were helping Frederick II, who was the King of Germany and married to King Henry III's sister.

He also fought with King Henry III in the Battle of Taillebourg in 1242. During this battle, he bravely captured an enemy leader. He was even seriously wounded while leading an attack on a monastery.

From 1246 to 1247, and again from 1248 to 1249, he served as the Lord Chancellor of England. This was a very high position.

In 1253, John Maunsell started a religious house called a priory in Bilsington. He wisely thought that the King's favor might not last forever.

Influence and Diplomacy

John Maunsell had a lot of power in the government. In 1258, a new set of rules called the Provisions of Oxford were made. These rules gave four important men, including John Maunsell, the power to choose a council. This council would help govern the country's money and legal system.

He was also a skilled diplomat. In 1249, he helped arrange the marriage of King Henry III's daughter, Margaret, to Alexander III of Scotland. In 1256, when King Alexander visited London, John Maunsell hosted both the English and Scottish royal courts. This showed how wealthy and influential he was.

In 1243, he was named Seneschal of Gascony. This was an important role in a region of France that belonged to England. He also helped solve a problem with Alfonso of Castile. Alfonso wanted control of Gascony. John Maunsell helped arrange the marriage of King Henry's son, Edward, to Alfonso's half-sister, Eleanor. This helped keep the peace.

In 1261, he became the Constable of the Tower of London. He also helped arrange another royal marriage in 1259. This was between King Henry's daughter, Beatrice, and John of Brittany.

John Maunsell was in France with the Queen when a major battle happened in England in 1264. This battle was the Battle of Lewes, where Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester defeated King Henry III. Soon after, Simon de Montfort took control of Maunsell's lands.

John Maunsell died on January 20, 1265, in Florence. He was buried in York Minster.

Family Connections

While some historical records suggest John Maunsell might have had a family, it is unlikely he had children. As a church official in "major orders," marriage was generally not allowed. He left his property not to any direct heirs, but to his sister and niece. The rest of his estate went back to the Crown.