The British Monarchy - Part II

Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor, the oldest son of recently deceased Queen Elizabeth, is now King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He is a constitutional monarch with limited powers.

Monarchs used to have absolute power. The Magna Carta of 1215 was the first step in the evolution of the monarch from absolute power to today’s limited authority (see part 1 of this series).

The evolution continued under King Henry III, son of King James who had accepted the Magna Carta.

King Henry III and the ‘Mad’ Parliament

King Henry III (reigned from 1217 – 1272) ran up large debts through foreign military adventures. In 1230, his attempt to conquer portions of France failed. In another overseas venture, the King expended significant funds on acquiring Sicily for his son Edmund. By the year 1258, the King was severely in debt. As agreed to in the Magna Carta, the King needed the support of the barons and other British lords to raise taxes. However, the nobles felt that the King had shown favoritism towards his relatives and was a poor leader. They had been meeting periodically with the King, and each other, to discuss matters of interest (to Parley with each other, leading to the word Parliament). In 1258, the nobility demanded reforms in return for giving taxes to the King. The meetings became known as the Oxford Parliament (where they met) or the ‘Mad’ Parliament. The origin of the ‘Mad’ descriptor is unclear. One theory is the supporters of the King, who opposed this Parliament, gave it this name. Another possibility is the nobility were angry (mad) at the Monarch.

According to the British Parliament’s website: “The ‘Provisions of Oxford' placed the king under the authority of a Council of Fifteen, to be chosen by twenty-four men made up of twelve nominees of the king, and twelve nominees of the reformers. The chief ministers, the Justiciar and Chancellor were to be chosen by and responsible to the Council of Fifteen, and ultimately to the community of the realm at regular parliaments to be held three times a year.”

The ’provisions of Oxford’ changed significantly the balance of powers between the King and Parliament. He was now to rule through the council and no longer selected the ministers by himself.

Simon de Montfort and Civil War

Within a few years, Henry III repudiated the Provisions of Oxford and tried to rule again as an autocrat. This provoked the Second Baron’s War (the first had occurred around the Magna Carta). The barons, led by a noble called Simon de Montfort defeated the royalist forces in 1264.  Henry III, and his heir to the throne Edward, were captured and imprisoned. Simon de Montfort became de facto ruler of England.

Marble Relief of Simon De Montfort - US Congress

When Simon de Montfort summoned a Parliament in 1265, he expanded its composition to include two citizens elected from the major towns. As described again in the British Parliament’s website: “Simon De Montfort's Parliament was the first instance of a parliament in which representatives from towns and the shires were summoned together to discuss matters of national concern. This Parliament is seen as the earliest forerunner of the modern Parliament because of its inclusion of both knights and burgesses, for a reason other than the granting of taxation. This broadened the types of people represented at a high level who were participating in affairs of the nation… the make up of Montfort's Parliament can be linked to the House of Commons as we know it today.”

Simon’s leadership did not last long. Prince Edward escaped captivity, raised an army, and defeated Simon De Montfort. He was executed and King Henry III was restored to the throne.

In 2015, the British Parliament celebrated the 750th anniversary of Simon De Montfort’s parliament as a key development in the development of democracy.

The United States also honors the role of Simon De Montfort in the development of Democracy. Simon De Montfort is one of twenty-three marble relief portraits over the gallery doors of the House Chamber in the U.S. Capitol. These depict historical figures noted for their work in establishing the principles that underlie American law.

King Henry III was followed by his son, Edward I. He was also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots. The next post in this series will continue this exploration of the British constitutional monarchy system.