On 14 May 1264 near Lewes, Sussex, the army of the baronial reformers under the command of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, defeated king Henry III's forces against all odds. As soon as the battle began Henry was deserted first by the Londoners, who were persued by his son Edward, and then by most of his followers. Eventually, King Henry was captured by Gilbert of Clare, Earl of Gloucester. On his return to the battle-field Prince Edward thought his father had won and was taken prisoner as well. The barons' victory is praised in the famous poem on the battle:

Sire simond de montfort haþ suore bi ys chyn,
heuede he nou here þe erl of waryn,
shulde he neuer more come to is yn,
ne wiþ sheld ne wiþ spere ne wiþ oþer gyn,
to help of Wyndesore.
Richard, þah þou be euer trichard,
tricchen shalt þou neuermore!

Sire simond de montfort haþ suore bi ys top,
Heuede he nou here sire hue de bigot,
al he shulde quite here tuelfmoneþ scot,
shulde he neuer more wiþ his fot pot
to helpe Wyndesore.
Richard, þah þou be euer trichard,
tricchen shalt þou neuermore!
(A Song of Lewes, Vv. 33-46)

Home > Navigation > History > The 13th Century > Barons' War > Battle of Lewes