Henry III

Henry III


House / Group: Plantagenet
Born / died: 1207-1272
Reign: 11216-1272


The son of King John and Isabella of Angouleme (great grand-daughter of King VI of France).
Henry came to power at the age of 9, on his father's death. but the country was initially ruled by the English Barons under Magna Carta (the Great Charter). When he came of age, Henry was eager to take charge.
He married Eleanor of Provence and they had five children (Edward (I), Margaret, Beatrice, Edmund Crouchback and Katharine). Several other children were recorded in some accounts, but the evidence is inconclusive.
Henry reigned for 56 years, but gets little recognition. He was greatly influenced by the cult of Edward the Confessor and pious in the extreme, taking mass several times each day. He favoured and advanced foreign allies and relations rather than English nobles. Henry fought battles with the Barons and was at one point defeated by their leader, Simon de Montfort, but his authority was re-established through the efforts of his son Edward, to whom Henry handed over power towards the end of his life.
He is buried in Westminster Abbey.