Lewes in East Sussex, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
The Battle of Lewes, 1264
Standing here on 14th May 1264 you would have witnessed one of the most important battles between rebel barons and King Henry III.
The King had a reputation for favouritism. The barons were split between his supporters and the opposition led by Simon de Montfort Simon de Montfort wanted to show that the King was not above the law but was its guardian. It was a brave decision for people to fight against their king.
Prince Edward spent the night of 13th May in the Castle. King Henry spent the night in Lewes Priory. The battle took place on the edge of Lewes. It must have been terrifying for the people of the town.
Simon de Montfort and his army won the battle. Henry and Edward took refuge in the Priory. The next day they signed a peace treaty called the Mise of Lewes. This treaty gave Simon de Montfort a lot of power over the King.
In 1265 Simon de Montfort called a parliament. It is sometimes described as the first House of Commons, because it included not only barons but also representatives from each Shire and Borough who were not from the nobility.
In the same year Simon de Montfort and the King fought again, at the Battle of Evesham, and Simon was killed.
Battle of Lewes
A 13th-century writer said that 2700 people were killed in the Battle of Lewes. We think they were buried in large pits.
This harness mount was found. at Shoreham. It is decorated with the arms of John Giffard. He, or one of his men, probably lost it on their way back to Gloucestershire after the Battle of Lewes.
He fought with Simon de Montfort against the King. He changed sides in 1265 and fought with the King at the Battle of Evesham.
( photo captions )
- Henry III (1207-1272) was the son of King John and was only nine years old when he became king.
- He liked to live extravagantly and had immense power over his people. This picture shows part of the carving of Henry on his tomb in Westminster Abbey.
- This oil painting of the Battle of Lewes was painted in the early 20th century. It is not meant to be accurate, but to give a flavour of the battle.
- The figure on the white horse with gold harness is presumably the King fighting Simon de Montfort. Three of the King's horses were killed under him during the battle.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is May 14, 1264.
Location. 50° 52.372′ N, 0° 0.459′ E. Marker is in Lewes, England, in East Sussex. Marker can be reached from the intersection of High Street and Castle Gate, on the left when traveling east. Located in Lewes Castle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lewes, England BN7 1XH, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Brack Mount (here, next to this marker); What Happened Where? (here, next to this marker); Fireplace (a few steps from this marker); The Wealds (a few steps from this marker); Protestant Martyrs (a few steps from this marker); Lewes Racecourse (a few steps from this marker); Mount Caburn (a few steps from this marker); Southover Grange (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewes.
Also see . . .
1. Battle of Lewes on Wikipedia. (Submitted on February 8, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Sussex Archaeological Society Lewes Castle & Museum. (Submitted on February 8, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
3. Lewes Castle on Wikipedia. (Submitted on February 8, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 286 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 8, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.