Oxford Parliament (1258) facts for kids
The Oxford Parliament (1258) was an important meeting held during the time of Henry III of England. It's also known as the Mad Parliament or the First English Parliament. At this parliament, a group of powerful nobles, called barons, made the king agree to a new way of governing. He had to rule with the advice of their special council.
Contents
What's in a Name?
This parliament got the nickname "Mad" from an old Latin book called Liber de Antiquis Legibus. It said, "Hoc anno fuit illud insane parliamentum apud Oxoniam", which means "This year was that insane parliament at Oxford."
However, some historians, like A.G. Little and R.L. Poole, found something interesting. They discovered that the word "insane" might have been written over another word. The original word might have been "insigne", which means "distinguished" or "remarkable." So, it might have originally meant "that distinguished parliament."
Why the Parliament Happened
By the 1250s, many powerful barons were unhappy with King Henry III. He showed too much favoritism to his half-brothers, William and Aymer de Valence.
The barons also didn't like Henry's expensive plans to conquer the Kingdom of Sicily for his son, Edmund Crouchback. In 1255, the king told parliament he owed the pope a huge amount of money, £100,000, for this plan. If he didn't pay, England could face serious religious punishment.
Henry had other debts too. From 1256 to 1257, the barons refused to give him the taxes he needed. The king's position got even weaker when English armies lost battles against Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in Wales.
Desperate for money, the king called a parliament to meet at Westminster on April 9. On April 12, a group of important nobles decided to stand together against the king's demands. These included Richard de Clare, Roger Bigod, and Simon de Montfort.
The barons were given three days to think about the king's request. On the agreed day, a group of earls, barons, and knights met the king and his son, the future Edward I. They were fully armed inside Westminster Hall. They demanded that the king agree to make reforms. Henry swore on the Gospels that he would follow their advice.
An agreement was written down in two official documents on May 2. In the first, the king agreed to introduce reforms by Christmas, based on his barons' advice. In return, the barons would agree to new taxes. If the king didn't keep his promise, he would be excommunicated (kicked out of the church).
In the second document, the king agreed that a reform plan would be created by a council of twenty-four people. Half of these would be from the king's council, and half would be chosen by the barons. This group would meet at Oxford on June 11. The Twenty-four would then share their ideas at a parliament called in Oxford.
What Happened at Oxford
At the Oxford Parliament on June 11, King Henry agreed to a new way of governing. This new system was written down in the Provisions of Oxford. It meant that power was given to a council of fifteen members. This council would oversee who became ministers, how local areas were run, and who guarded royal castles.
The parliament itself would meet three times a year. Its job was to check on how well this new council of fifteen was doing.
Henry agreed to these rules, and the council of fifteen was formed. Important members included Simon de Montfort, Peter de Montfort, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Boniface of Savoy. Other members were the Earl of Norfolk, the Earl of Gloucester, and Hugh Bigod.
What Happened Next
The agreement made at the Oxford Parliament didn't last very long. The Pope later told King Henry that he didn't have to keep his promises about the throne of Sicily. This meant Henry no longer needed the extra money from the new taxes.
The disagreement was brought before King Louis IX of France. He was asked to decide between Henry and the Barons in an event called the Mise of Amiens. King Louis decided completely in favor of his fellow king, Henry. He overturned the agreement made at Oxford. This meant Henry didn't have to let Parliament choose ministers anymore; he got that power back.
This soon led to the Second Barons' War. Forces led by Simon de Montfort rebelled against the King. After an early attack by the Barons, Henry's army won a battle at Northampton. But Montfort's forces and Henry's couldn't agree, leading to the Battle of Lewes. The Barons won this battle, and a new agreement, the Mise of Lewes, was made.
However, Prince Edward, Henry's son, escaped his captors within a few months. He began to take back control of England. Montfort's forces found themselves trapped at Evesham. In the battle that followed, Simon de Montfort was killed, and his forces were defeated by Edward's army.
The Barons kept resisting for a while. But the Dictum of Kenilworth in October 1266 offered pardons (forgiveness) to those who surrendered, which led to their surrender.
Lasting Impact
Peter de Montfort had a special role in this parliament. He acted as a "parlour" or "prolocutor." This role was a very early version of what we now call the Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. That official role began much later, in 1377.
See also
Images for kids
-
Westminster Hall, where the barons confronted Henry III
