WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.919 Hey, everyone. Welcome to the show. Great to 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:04.120 be diving in again. Can you imagine the sheer 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:08.439 terror? I mean, holding a crown meant for you 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:11.859 when powerful enemies are just circling, ready 00:00:11.859 --> 00:00:14.500 to snatch it away. That's quite a picture, isn't 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:17.079 it? That's the razor's edge we're exploring today. 00:00:17.620 --> 00:00:20.800 A forgotten but utterly gripping chapter of English 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:23.120 history. What's fascinating when you really think 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:27.280 about it is how close England actually came to 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.100 a completely different trajectory. This isn't 00:00:30.100 --> 00:00:32.219 just, you know, dusty dates and names. No, not 00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:34.259 at all. It's a really visceral story of survival 00:00:34.259 --> 00:00:37.659 against, well, pretty overwhelming odds. Absolutely. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:41.020 Today in this historical deep dive, we're plunging 00:00:41.020 --> 00:00:43.759 into the early years of King Henry III's reign, 00:00:43.979 --> 00:00:47.490 a period just brimming with high stakes. unexpected 00:00:47.490 --> 00:00:52.250 heroes, and the surprising tenacity of a royal 00:00:52.250 --> 00:00:54.590 line basically teetering on the brink. That's 00:00:54.590 --> 00:00:56.210 a good way to put it, teetering. We'll be using 00:00:56.210 --> 00:00:58.450 Matthew Lewis's book, Henry III. And hey, you'll 00:00:58.450 --> 00:01:00.250 find a link on Amazon in the description if you 00:01:00.250 --> 00:01:02.030 want to delve even further as our guide. That's 00:01:02.030 --> 00:01:04.569 a great resource. Yeah, to understand why this 00:01:04.569 --> 00:01:07.010 king and this crucial period has been so often 00:01:07.010 --> 00:01:08.890 overlooked, don't forget to like and subscribe 00:01:08.890 --> 00:01:11.709 while you're listening. And for us, really the 00:01:11.709 --> 00:01:14.950 core question in this deep dive is this. How 00:01:14.950 --> 00:01:17.769 did a nine -year -old boy inheriting a kingdom 00:01:17.769 --> 00:01:20.870 pretty much in chaos, managed to hold onto his 00:01:20.870 --> 00:01:23.510 throne. Right. How did he? We're going to unpack 00:01:23.510 --> 00:01:27.230 the key personalities, the pivotal decisions, 00:01:27.329 --> 00:01:30.510 and just the sheer will that prevented England 00:01:30.510 --> 00:01:33.310 from, well, becoming part of France. Okay, let's 00:01:33.310 --> 00:01:35.510 unpack this then. The story doesn't actually 00:01:35.510 --> 00:01:37.469 begin with Henry III himself, does it? We need 00:01:37.469 --> 00:01:39.849 to wind the clock back a bit. That's right. Yeah, 00:01:39.930 --> 00:01:41.750 you have to look at his grandfather, King Henry 00:01:41.750 --> 00:01:45.049 II, who died way back in 1189. Talk about a family 00:01:45.049 --> 00:01:47.469 in turmoil. Oh, absolutely. Henry II's final 00:01:47.469 --> 00:01:50.230 years were just plagued by rebellions from his 00:01:50.230 --> 00:01:53.549 own sons, Richard and John, most famously. And 00:01:53.549 --> 00:01:56.530 the vast Angevin Empire, that huge collection 00:01:56.530 --> 00:01:59.010 of lands in France and England, was really starting 00:01:59.010 --> 00:02:01.409 to crumble. So the foundations were shaky from 00:02:01.409 --> 00:02:03.840 the start. Very unstable. Yeah, this internal 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:06.000 conflict laid a very unstable foundation for 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:08.159 everything that followed. Right. Fast forward 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:11.000 a couple of decades, and under King John, things 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:14.580 have gone from bad to, well, truly dire. Dire 00:02:14.580 --> 00:02:16.900 is the word. We all remember Magna Carta and 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:19.500 the grumbling from the barons, but it escalated 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:21.759 way beyond that, didn't it? To the point where 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.180 they were actually plotting to kill the king 00:02:24.180 --> 00:02:27.039 outright. Yeah. What's truly striking, I think, 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:29.500 is the level of desperation among the English 00:02:29.500 --> 00:02:32.360 barons by then. Desperation is right. By 1212. 00:02:32.990 --> 00:02:35.330 A significant number of them were so utterly 00:02:35.330 --> 00:02:37.849 fed up with John's rule, I mean completely finished, 00:02:38.009 --> 00:02:40.250 that they were willing to invite Prince Louis 00:02:40.250 --> 00:02:43.129 of France to become their king. Wow. Inviting 00:02:43.129 --> 00:02:45.409 the French prince? Can you imagine? This wasn't 00:02:45.409 --> 00:02:47.629 just some minor disagreement. It was a fundamental 00:02:47.629 --> 00:02:50.169 challenge to the entire English monarchy. How 00:02:50.169 --> 00:02:52.969 did Louis even have a claim? Well, it was tenuous, 00:02:53.009 --> 00:02:55.030 but it came through his wife, Blanche of Castile. 00:02:55.229 --> 00:02:58.150 She was actually John's niece. Ah, okay. So there 00:02:58.150 --> 00:03:00.030 was some connection. Enough, in their eyes anyway, 00:03:00.189 --> 00:03:03.330 to give his ambition a sort of semblance of legitimacy. 00:03:03.710 --> 00:03:08.550 And then in 1216, John's reign just ends rather 00:03:08.550 --> 00:03:11.770 unceremoniously. Yeah. Lost his baggage train 00:03:11.770 --> 00:03:15.699 in the wash. John succumbs to dysentery. Not 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:19.360 exactly a heroic exit. Not really. But even his 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:21.719 final concerns, the things in his will, they're 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:23.919 quite telling, aren't they? Absolutely. John's 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.080 will, and it's amazing, it still survives in 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:28.560 its original form, the oldest one we have from 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:31.080 an English king. Really? The actual document? 00:03:31.099 --> 00:03:33.800 The actual parchment. It's quite small physically. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:36.300 It gives this fascinating, intimate look at his 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:38.960 priorities as he faced death. So what was top 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.180 of his list? Despite everything. His overwhelming 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:44.780 concern was securing the inheritance for his 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:47.860 young son, Henry, who was only nine. Just nine 00:03:47.860 --> 00:03:50.719 years old. Wow. Yeah. His other requests were 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:52.900 more, you know, standard for the time, reparations 00:03:52.900 --> 00:03:55.560 to the church, aid for crusades in the Holy Land, 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:58.500 rewards for loyal servants, alms for the poor. 00:03:58.580 --> 00:04:00.479 Covering all the bases before the end. Exactly. 00:04:00.969 --> 00:04:03.490 reflect the traditional obligations and anxieties, 00:04:03.509 --> 00:04:06.270 maybe, of a medieval ruler facing judgment. And 00:04:06.270 --> 00:04:08.810 who does he entrust with this massive task, protecting 00:04:08.810 --> 00:04:12.370 his kid's claim? He names 13 executors, an incredible 00:04:12.370 --> 00:04:14.810 group of powerful individuals. 13? Who was in 00:04:14.810 --> 00:04:16.879 that group? Looking at the list, it's like a 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:19.300 snapshot of the entire English political elite. 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:22.279 You've got the papal legate, Guala. The pope's 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:25.759 representative. Yes. Hugely influential. Then 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:28.379 several powerful bishops like Peter de Roche. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.300 Okay. And formidable lay leaders like the famous 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:34.779 William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, and Ranulf, 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:37.160 the Earl of Chester. William Marshall. Now there's 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:39.610 a name. Absolutely. And others, too. William 00:04:39.610 --> 00:04:42.170 Ferrers, William Brewer, Walter DeLacy, Foulkes, 00:04:42.209 --> 00:04:44.810 DeBrote. I mean, it's a powerhouse list. So basically 00:04:44.810 --> 00:04:48.029 everyone who mattered. Precisely. This group 00:04:48.029 --> 00:04:50.790 represented a huge concentration of both spiritual 00:04:50.790 --> 00:04:53.790 and, crucially, political and military authority. 00:04:54.110 --> 00:04:57.649 Their actions, their loyalty, or... Maybe their 00:04:57.649 --> 00:04:59.750 betrayal. Yeah, that was possible too. Would 00:04:59.750 --> 00:05:02.089 directly determine Henry's fate. John knew the 00:05:02.089 --> 00:05:04.230 future rested squarely on their shoulders. So 00:05:04.230 --> 00:05:06.709 this brings us to the boy king himself, Henry 00:05:06.709 --> 00:05:09.589 of Winchester. Just 10 days after his father's 00:05:09.589 --> 00:05:12.689 death, he's hastily crowned in Gloucester. Hasty 00:05:12.689 --> 00:05:15.370 is the word. October 28th, 1216. Not exactly 00:05:15.370 --> 00:05:17.930 the grand Westminster Abbey ceremony we picture. 00:05:18.209 --> 00:05:21.129 No, the circumstances really underscore the urgency, 00:05:21.370 --> 00:05:24.449 the instability. Gloucester was chosen because 00:05:24.449 --> 00:05:28.000 London was enemy territory. Prince Louis and 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.240 his barons held it. Right. Louis was in London. 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:32.459 And they didn't even have proper coronation gear. 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:35.060 They had to borrow robes, use a simple circlet 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:37.939 or coronet instead of a crown. It shows the chaos. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:41.560 Wow. Borrowed robes for a king's coronation. 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:45.019 But crucially, the papal legate Guala was there 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:48.779 alongside Peter de Roche. Guala's presence provided 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:51.040 that vital stamp of legitimacy from the church. 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:53.600 That papal approval must have been huge. Absolutely 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:55.800 essential. And then comes this critical moment. 00:05:56.269 --> 00:05:58.689 who steps up to actually lead the royalist cause. 00:05:58.970 --> 00:06:00.910 William Marshall seems the obvious choice, right? 00:06:01.069 --> 00:06:04.550 He does. But there's this rather surprising moment 00:06:04.550 --> 00:06:06.910 where he initially offers the role to Ranulf, 00:06:06.990 --> 00:06:08.990 the Earl of Chester. Really? Why would he do 00:06:08.990 --> 00:06:11.149 that? Well, it reveals the character of both 00:06:11.149 --> 00:06:13.250 men, doesn't it? Marshall, despite being, what, 00:06:13.350 --> 00:06:15.949 70 years old by then? 70, wow. Yeah, advanced 00:06:15.949 --> 00:06:19.689 age, immense challenge. But he was clearly the 00:06:19.689 --> 00:06:22.490 most capable leader. Renowned valor, experience, 00:06:22.810 --> 00:06:26.430 wisdom. Everyone knew him. Exactly. And Ranulf's 00:06:26.430 --> 00:06:28.610 reaction is fascinating, too. He insists Marshall 00:06:28.610 --> 00:06:31.709 take the lead. So Ranulf turned it down. He argued 00:06:31.709 --> 00:06:34.430 compellingly that Marshall's abilities and popularity 00:06:34.430 --> 00:06:37.730 were what they needed. It shows remarkable selflessness, 00:06:37.970 --> 00:06:40.569 actually, and shrewd political judgment from 00:06:40.569 --> 00:06:43.269 Ranulf. Recognizing the best man for the job, 00:06:43.329 --> 00:06:46.389 even if it wasn't him. Both men understood what 00:06:46.389 --> 00:06:48.870 was needed to unite their cause in that desperate 00:06:48.870 --> 00:06:52.300 hour. So Marshall becomes the guardian of the 00:06:52.300 --> 00:06:54.800 king and the realm, not regent. A deliberately 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.399 chosen title, yeah. Reflecting the extraordinary 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:00.459 circumstances of child king, kingdom in flames. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:03.540 And he immediately brings in Peter de Roche, 00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:05.939 who'd been Henry's tutor. Right, Marshall nominated 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:08.819 him, likely for continuity. Peter de Roche already 00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:10.560 had a relationship with young Henry. Your exits 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.720 provide some stability for the boy. Exactly, 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:16.139 amidst all the chaos. Now, the public reaction 00:07:16.139 --> 00:07:18.019 to Marshall's appointment was largely positive. 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:21.279 People respected him. Understandably. But contemporary 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:23.600 accounts suggest Marshall himself had private 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.100 anxieties. He knew the pressure was enormous, 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:28.839 acutely aware of the young king's vulnerability, 00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:31.720 the lack of resources, and his own advancing 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:34.800 years. It was a huge burden for a 70 -year -old. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:37.899 Immense. And Guala, the papal legate, you mentioned 00:07:37.899 --> 00:07:40.639 his importance. He really throws the church's 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:42.620 weight behind Henry, doesn't he? Absolutely. 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:45.199 He excommunicates Prince Louis and all his allies. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:48.500 Excommunication, serious stuff. Very serious. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:52.339 And he essentially frames the entire royalist 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:56.060 effort as a holy crusade. Wow. Talk about a powerful 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:58.899 PR strategy. It was pivotal, invoking papal authority, 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:02.480 casting it as a holy war. It provided this potent 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:04.939 ideological justification for supporting Henry. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:07.920 More than just feudal loyalty. Exactly. It offered 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:10.680 spiritual rewards, potentially swaying undecided 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:13.439 barons, and definitely boosting morale for the 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:15.850 royalists. Okay, so let's picture the situation 00:08:15.850 --> 00:08:18.110 on the ground. After John's death, England's 00:08:18.110 --> 00:08:20.649 a mess, right? A patchwork of control. Very much 00:08:20.649 --> 00:08:22.970 so. Incredibly precarious for the royalists. 00:08:23.490 --> 00:08:26.589 Louis was besieging Dover Castle. Which was holding 00:08:26.589 --> 00:08:29.850 out. Yes, crucially. But he held London, much 00:08:29.850 --> 00:08:33.429 of the southeast, even parts of Yorkshire. Royalist 00:08:33.429 --> 00:08:36.070 strongholds were scattered, isolated across the 00:08:36.070 --> 00:08:38.549 country. Sounds like a recipe for a long, drawn 00:08:38.549 --> 00:08:41.210 -out stalemate. It could easily have been. Louis' 00:08:41.309 --> 00:08:44.029 control over key areas, plus his baronial support, 00:08:44.309 --> 00:08:47.769 was formidable. But those scattered strongholds, 00:08:47.769 --> 00:08:50.110 and especially the resistance at Dover, under 00:08:50.110 --> 00:08:52.809 Hubert de Boer. Ah, Hubert de Boer. He's key 00:08:52.809 --> 00:08:55.990 here. Absolutely. His defiance at Dover was critical. 00:08:56.429 --> 00:08:58.950 It prevented a complete, immediate collapse of 00:08:58.950 --> 00:09:00.750 the royalist cause. Tell me more about that. 00:09:00.809 --> 00:09:04.429 He refused Louis' offer. Repeatedly. Even when 00:09:04.429 --> 00:09:06.830 his garrison was facing starvation. He wouldn't 00:09:06.830 --> 00:09:08.970 surrender. That kind of defiance, that must have 00:09:08.970 --> 00:09:12.129 been a huge morale boost for Henry's side. Enormous. 00:09:12.149 --> 00:09:14.789 It tied down a significant chunk of Louis' forces, 00:09:14.870 --> 00:09:17.129 yes. But more importantly, it was this powerful 00:09:17.129 --> 00:09:20.470 symbol of resistance. It gave hope. So Louis 00:09:20.470 --> 00:09:23.049 can't take Dover. What does he do instead? He 00:09:23.049 --> 00:09:25.090 embarks on a campaign to seize other royalist 00:09:25.090 --> 00:09:28.730 castles. Hertford, Berkhamstead, Orford, Norwich, 00:09:28.809 --> 00:09:31.429 Cambridge, Colchester. Trying to consolidate 00:09:31.429 --> 00:09:34.669 his grip. Exactly. But William Marshall manages 00:09:34.669 --> 00:09:38.110 to negotiate truces in several places. Truces? 00:09:38.629 --> 00:09:41.669 Was that wise? Seems like giving ground. It looks 00:09:41.669 --> 00:09:43.370 like he was playing a very strategic game to 00:09:43.370 --> 00:09:46.970 delay, buying valuable time. Ah, okay. What was 00:09:46.970 --> 00:09:50.129 the goal? Well, it likely served several purposes. 00:09:50.610 --> 00:09:53.549 Allowed him to consolidate his own, often scattered, 00:09:53.730 --> 00:09:56.950 forces. Prevented further critical losses. Maybe 00:09:56.950 --> 00:09:59.649 even sowed some doubt within Louis' ranks. Remember... 00:10:00.169 --> 00:10:02.490 Louis had French and English supporters. Good 00:10:02.490 --> 00:10:04.590 point. Keep them guessing. It was pragmatic. 00:10:04.990 --> 00:10:07.870 Avoid a decisive early defeat while he waited 00:10:07.870 --> 00:10:10.269 for the right moment to strike back. And that 00:10:10.269 --> 00:10:12.230 opportunity arrives at the Battle of Lincoln, 00:10:12.429 --> 00:10:16.269 May 1217. The pivotal moment, yes. Marshall gathers 00:10:16.269 --> 00:10:18.309 his forces at Newark. They come up with a plan. 00:10:18.509 --> 00:10:20.809 A rather ingenious plan, actually. Marshall's 00:10:20.809 --> 00:10:23.049 leadership, combined with Peter Desroches' strategic 00:10:23.049 --> 00:10:25.629 thinking, proved decisive. What was the plan? 00:10:26.029 --> 00:10:28.110 They decided to approach Lincoln from the northwest 00:10:28.110 --> 00:10:31.049 side, which was less heavily defended. They used 00:10:31.049 --> 00:10:33.309 the old Roman road, the Fosseway. Catch them 00:10:33.309 --> 00:10:36.750 by surprise. Completely. Louis' forces were busy 00:10:36.750 --> 00:10:39.409 besieging Lincoln Castle, which was being held 00:10:39.409 --> 00:10:42.529 for Henry by a remarkable woman, Nicola de la 00:10:42.529 --> 00:10:44.809 Haye, the sheriff. A woman holding the castle. 00:10:44.909 --> 00:10:48.470 Fantastic. Nicola de la Haye, yes. So the French 00:10:48.470 --> 00:10:50.970 were focused on the siege. Key royalists were 00:10:50.970 --> 00:10:53.440 there, with Marshal Randolph of Chester. Fawkes 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:55.779 de Brotte. The executor Fawkes. The very same. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.000 Peter de Roche did some reconnaissance first. 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:00.820 Okay, setting the scene. Then Fawkes' crossbowmen, 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:03.759 inside the castle with Nicola, started firing 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:06.299 down on the besiegers. Reigning death from above. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:09.759 Pretty much. Meanwhile, Ranulf launched a diversionary 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:12.159 attack on the main north gate, drawing French 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:14.860 attention. Pinning them down. And then, Marshall 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:17.480 himself, despite his age, led a determined assault 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:20.100 on that weaker northwest gate. Leading from the 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:22.559 front. It sounds incredibly dramatic. It was. 00:11:23.179 --> 00:11:25.799 Imagine the chaos, the surprise among Louis' 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:28.899 men. There's an anecdote about a French soldier 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:31.720 working a siege engine, looking up in disbelief 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:33.820 just before he's struck down. You can almost 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:36.799 picture the panic. Absolute panic. Marshall's 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:39.360 personal bravery was apparently inspiring. The 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.259 tide turned very quickly. The French commander, 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:44.240 the Count of Perche, was captured and killed. 00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:47.460 A major blow. Huge. The French forces tried to 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:49.600 retreat back through the town, but it was chaos. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.120 They got jammed up trying to cross the bridge 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:55.360 over the river with him. Bottlenecked. Exactly. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:58.320 And apparently, the mechanism of one of the town 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:01.720 gates got stuck. supposedly by a cow blocking 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:05.419 it. A cow? You kidding? That's the story. Whether 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:07.720 it's entirely true or not, it paints a picture 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:10.820 of total disarray. Many French knights and rebel 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:14.019 English barons were captured. Lincoln was a massive 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:16.620 victory for the royalists. Incredible. But that 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:18.779 wasn't quite the end of it, was it? Lincoln secured 00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:20.919 the land, but there was still the threat from 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:23.320 the sea. French reinforcement. Exactly right. 00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:25.679 The war wasn't won yet. Louis could still bring 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:28.529 troops over from France. Which brings us back 00:12:28.529 --> 00:12:31.250 to Hubert de Bourgh. The hero of Dover. The very 00:12:31.250 --> 00:12:34.330 same. He steps up again for a crucial naval battle 00:12:34.330 --> 00:12:37.730 off the coast of Sandwich in August 1217. A naval 00:12:37.730 --> 00:12:41.490 battle. Okay. Hubert led the English fleet. They 00:12:41.490 --> 00:12:44.309 employed a clever tactical feint, pretending 00:12:44.309 --> 00:12:47.049 to sail past the French, then turning sharply 00:12:47.049 --> 00:12:49.350 to gain the advantage of the wind. Smart sailing. 00:12:49.649 --> 00:12:52.850 And then they used a, well, a rather unconventional 00:12:52.850 --> 00:12:55.980 weapon. Oh, what was that? Powdered quicklime, 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:58.340 they threw it into the wind towards the French 00:12:58.340 --> 00:13:00.720 ships. Quicklime? What would that do? It would 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.700 blow into the sailors' eyes, blinding them. Pretty 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:07.220 brutal, but effective. Wow. Innovative warfare. 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:10.120 It caused chaos on the French decks. The English 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:13.039 boarded the flagship, which belonged to a notorious 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:16.399 pirate allied with Louis called Eustace the Monk. 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:19.120 Eustace the Monk? What a name! He was captured 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:21.360 and apparently executed pretty much on the spot. 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:23.940 Swift justice. The French fleet was devastated. 00:13:24.409 --> 00:13:27.009 Only about 15 of their 80 ships made it back 00:13:27.009 --> 00:13:29.789 home. 80 ships down to 15. A crushing defeat. 00:13:30.090 --> 00:13:32.049 Absolutely crushing. It severed Louis' supply 00:13:32.049 --> 00:13:35.230 lines completely. No hope of significant reinforcements. 00:13:35.389 --> 00:13:37.769 So that really sealed it. Pretty much. All of 00:13:37.769 --> 00:13:39.889 this culminates in the Treaty of Kingston in 00:13:39.889 --> 00:13:42.730 September 1217. Okay, the peace treaty. What 00:13:42.730 --> 00:13:45.110 were the terms? Louis finally agrees to withdraw 00:13:45.110 --> 00:13:47.730 his claim to the English throne. And the terms 00:13:47.730 --> 00:13:49.909 were surprisingly generous, all things considered. 00:13:50.070 --> 00:13:52.769 Generous, after all. Well, it focused on restoring 00:13:52.769 --> 00:13:55.590 the situation. Lands and rights returned to how 00:13:55.590 --> 00:13:57.929 they were before the invasion. Prisoners released 00:13:57.929 --> 00:14:01.070 on both sides. English subjects had to renounce 00:14:01.070 --> 00:14:03.190 any allegiance they'd sworn to Louis. Banded 00:14:03.190 --> 00:14:06.070 stuff. Louis had to release any hostages he held, 00:14:06.210 --> 00:14:08.490 order the surrender of the Channel Islands, which 00:14:08.490 --> 00:14:11.309 his forces still occupied, and urge his Welsh 00:14:11.309 --> 00:14:14.190 ally, Llywelyn a Payerworth, to stop causing 00:14:14.190 --> 00:14:16.669 trouble in Wales. Trying to tie up all the loose 00:14:16.669 --> 00:14:19.870 ends. And, interestingly, the English agreed 00:14:19.870 --> 00:14:23.080 to pay Louis a sum of money. Pay him. to leave. 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:25.940 Essentially, yes. A financial incentive to encourage 00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:28.460 his departure quickly and prevent any lingering 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:31.580 resentment that might fuel future conflict. Pragmatic. 00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:33.820 Get him out. Draw a line under it. Exactly. It 00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:35.820 was a successful resolution to a very dangerous 00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:39.159 chapter. So Henry III makes his triumphant return 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:42.639 to London in October 1217. What a difference 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:45.299 a year makes. A huge contrast to that hurried 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:47.600 coronation in Gloucester. And one of the first 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:50.820 big acts is the reissuance of Magna Carta, right? 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.379 With some changes. Yes. Under William Marshall's 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:56.179 guidance, the Great Charter was reissued with 00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:58.460 some amendments and omissions from the original 00:14:58.460 --> 00:15:01.340 1215 version. What kind of changes? Things like 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:04.080 clarifying widow's dower rights, refining clauses 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:06.879 on justice, setting limits on how long goods 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:09.000 could be requisitioned without payment 40 days 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:11.899 generally. OK. Practical adjustments. Yes. Less 00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:14.559 frequent meetings of Fasher courts, reestablishing 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.080 the tax known as scootage, as it had been under 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:19.700 Henry II, trying to find a workable balance. 00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:22.259 And wasn't there another charter issued around 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.500 the same time? Something about forests? Absolutely. 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:26.899 The separate charter of the forest. This was 00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:30.000 hugely significant. Why so significant? It specifically 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.960 addressed grievances about the royal forest. 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:35.200 Vast areas of land under special harsh royal 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:38.000 law. This charter reversed the expansion of the 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.379 forest under Richard de Surth and John. So giving 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:43.299 land back, effectively. Restoring rights. More 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:46.340 like it. Rights for ordinary people to graze 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:50.200 pigs, gather wood, forage, things vital for survival. 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:53.840 Big deal for common folk. Massive. And crucially, 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:56.879 it removed the death penalty for poaching deer, 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.559 replacing it with fines or imprisonment. A bit 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:02.000 more humane. Definitely. And that charter of 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:04.220 the forest remained English law for centuries. 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:08.480 Its impact was incredibly long lasting. So Magna 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:10.919 Carta and the Charter of the Forest, fundamental 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.559 building blocks. Absolutely. Critical steps in 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:16.539 solidifying peace and reestablishing a framework 00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:18.539 for governance after the war. And were there 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:22.000 other efforts to kind of reset things, establish 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.899 peace more broadly? Yes, there were various efforts. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:27.240 Measures were taken to protect Jewish communities 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:29.820 who often suffered in times of upheaval. That 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:33.039 sounds positive. Well, yes and no. It came with 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.940 the deeply troubling requirement that they wear 00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:37.080 identifying strips of cloth on their clothing. 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:40.799 Oh, right. So protection, but also segregation. 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:43.759 Precisely. A reflection of the complex and often 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:45.980 discriminatory attitudes of the time. What else 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:47.820 was happening? Another interesting development 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:50.519 was that many leading barons decided to go on 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:53.419 crusade. Leave the country? Who went? People 00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:56.600 like Ranulf of Chester, Robert Fitzwalter, Serda 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:58.759 Quincy, major figures, some of whom had been 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:02.179 rebels against John. Why leave then? Genuine 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:05.900 piety. Partly, perhaps. But it was also convenient. 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:08.900 It removed potential forces of instability from 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:11.339 England, redirected their energies elsewhere. 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:14.339 A concerted effort to reset and rebuild, as you 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:16.359 said. Makes sense. Get the big players focused 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:18.920 on something else for a while. Exactly. Sadly, 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.640 though, William Marshall's incredible service 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:23.079 couldn't last forever. He was getting old. Indeed. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.160 His remarkable contribution was drawing to a 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.039 close. He died in May 1219. Did he say anything 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:32.819 before the end? He gave a final speech, apparently, 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:35.619 entrusting the guardianship of young Henry and 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:38.599 the realm not to one person, but to the collective 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:41.359 baronage. Spreading the responsibility. Seems 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:44.400 so. But almost immediately after his death, you 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:46.500 see a bit of a power struggle emerge for the 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:48.599 practical day -to -day control. The regency. 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:51.279 Who was involved? Mainly, Peter de Roche, the 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:53.539 bishop who had been Henry's tutor. Right. And 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:56.309 Hubert de Bourgh, the justiciar. The hereto of 00:17:56.309 --> 00:17:58.329 Dover and Sandwich. Ah, the two main figures 00:17:58.329 --> 00:18:01.390 left standing. Pretty much. It highlights the 00:18:01.390 --> 00:18:03.390 underlying political tensions that were still 00:18:03.390 --> 00:18:05.990 there, even after the French threat was gone. 00:18:06.150 --> 00:18:09.430 And Marshall himself. Any last wishes? He actually 00:18:09.430 --> 00:18:11.809 became a Knight Templar on his deathbed. Really? 00:18:12.089 --> 00:18:14.849 Joined the temples right at the end? Yes, reflecting 00:18:14.849 --> 00:18:16.930 the deep religious convictions common in that 00:18:16.930 --> 00:18:20.329 era. A powerful symbolic act. So Marshall's gone. 00:18:20.509 --> 00:18:23.910 Does the Pope's influence lessen now? Not really, 00:18:23.970 --> 00:18:27.059 no. Papal authority remains significant. We see 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:29.640 figures like Pandolf, who succeeded Guala as 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:32.380 legate, keeping a close eye on things. Like what? 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.799 Particularly the English exchequer, the finances. 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:37.039 There was always interest in collecting funds 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.200 for potential future crusades. Always with the 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:42.680 money in the crusades. Often, yes. And Pope Honorius 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:45.849 III himself was writing letters to England. emphasizing 00:18:45.849 --> 00:18:48.910 the critical nest for wise and upright men to 00:18:48.910 --> 00:18:51.730 instruct and guide the young king. Rome was definitely 00:18:51.730 --> 00:18:53.910 still a major power broker. No question about 00:18:53.910 --> 00:18:56.369 it. England was still technically a papal fiefdom 00:18:56.369 --> 00:18:59.029 since John's time. Right. I forgot about that. 00:18:59.230 --> 00:19:01.529 But even with all this guidance, Henry himself 00:19:01.529 --> 00:19:04.269 starts to grow up. He's a teenager now. Does 00:19:04.269 --> 00:19:06.490 he start showing signs of wanting to rule himself? 00:19:06.849 --> 00:19:10.609 He does. Subtle signs at first, but yes. His 00:19:10.609 --> 00:19:13.569 second coronation in May 1220 is a key moment. 00:19:13.930 --> 00:19:16.809 How so? Unlike the first rushed one, this was 00:19:16.809 --> 00:19:19.309 held at Westminster Abbey. It was a much more 00:19:19.309 --> 00:19:22.589 peaceful, splendid affair. It symbolized a return 00:19:22.589 --> 00:19:25.750 to normality, growing stability. A proper coronation 00:19:25.750 --> 00:19:28.470 this time. Exactly. And you see other signs of 00:19:28.470 --> 00:19:30.990 stability. Peter Girosh and Fawkes de Brotte 00:19:30.990 --> 00:19:33.390 both felt secure enough to take the Crusader's 00:19:33.390 --> 00:19:35.650 vow, planning to leave the country for a time. 00:19:35.710 --> 00:19:38.029 Things must have felt calmer. Comparatively, 00:19:38.170 --> 00:19:40.609 yes. Though there were still ongoing tensions, 00:19:40.910 --> 00:19:43.250 particularly with Llewellyn and Wales, William 00:19:43.250 --> 00:19:45.029 Marshall had been quite effective in enforcing 00:19:45.029 --> 00:19:47.250 royal authority there before he died. So Wales 00:19:47.250 --> 00:19:49.369 was still a problem area. Always a potential 00:19:49.369 --> 00:19:51.970 flashpoint. But the most interesting signs are 00:19:51.970 --> 00:19:54.029 in the official government documents. What kind 00:19:54.029 --> 00:19:56.490 of signs? You start to see subtle but significant 00:19:56.490 --> 00:19:59.690 changes in the wording. Instead of documents 00:19:59.690 --> 00:20:02.630 ending, witness Hubert de Burr, my justiciar. 00:20:02.869 --> 00:20:05.069 The guy running things for him. Right. They start 00:20:05.069 --> 00:20:09.140 ending. witness myself. Ah, Henry putting his 00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:12.259 own name to it. Exactly. A clear, albeit small, 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:15.619 assertion of his own authority, his increasing 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:18.420 desire to take direct control. And then there's 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:21.900 that interesting incident in 1224, something 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:24.579 about the charters. Yes, that's quite revealing. 00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:27.700 Henry publicly reaffirms his commitment to Magna 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:30.500 Carta and the Charter of the Forest. Okay, seems 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.640 straightforward. But apparently he did it in 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:35.319 the face of some opposition, notably from William 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:37.779 Brewer, one of the old guards from his father's 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:40.819 time. So he stood his ground. He did. It demonstrates 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:43.619 a cautious but definite assertion of his own 00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:46.839 will and also a recognition of how important 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:49.220 those charters had become. He knew he needed 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:51.740 to uphold them. A balancing act, asserting himself 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:54.859 but respecting the limits. Precisely. A pragmatic 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:57.839 understanding, even as a young man. Though interestingly, 00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:00.140 the Pope also intervened around this time regarding 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:02.259 how Peter de Roche was being treated, showing 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:04.779 the church still held considerable sway. Always 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:07.119 pulling strings. So he's starting to assert himself. 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.920 Does he face more direct challenges? He does. 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:14.000 Later in 1224, there's the siege of Bedford Castle. 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:16.480 What happened there? It was held by Fawkes of 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.779 Brotet, the same Fawkes who was one of John's 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:21.099 executors, and fought at Lincoln. He rebelled. 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:23.940 His brother was holding it defiantly against 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:27.500 royal orders. Henry led the siege himself. It 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.759 was long and difficult, but he eventually took 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:32.440 the castle and dealt quite harshly with the garrison. 00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:34.920 Harshly? Yes. It showed he was willing to use 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:36.599 force against those who defied his authority, 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:39.400 perhaps learning that past leniency towards rebels 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:41.940 hadn't always worked. Getting tougher. Seems 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:45.039 so. Then internationally, an opportunity potentially 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:48.440 arises in 1226. What's that? Louis VIII of France, 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:51.259 the same Prince Louis who invaded England, dies. 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:55.160 His son, Louis IX, is just a boy. A minority 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:57.539 in France, just like Henry had been. Exactly. 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.880 Potentially creating opportunities for Henry 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:01.900 to try and regain some of those lost Angevin 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:04.019 lands on the continent. Did he take that chance? 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:06.200 He did eventually try, but we'll get to that. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:10.119 First, in April 1228, the Pope formally confirms 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:12.980 that Henry is assuming full personal authority 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:15.759 in England. He's officially ruling in his own 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.559 right. A big milestone. No more guardians. Right. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:21.579 But that same year, another major figure dies, 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:24.140 Archbishop Stephen Langton. The Archbishop of 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:26.500 Canterbury involved with Magna Carta. The very 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:29.339 one. His death leaves a vacuum in the English 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:32.920 church. And then in 1229, Henry makes his move 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:36.019 regarding France. The invasion? How did it go? 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:39.000 Not well. He launched an expedition to Normandy, 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:41.759 but it was pretty unsuccessful. Logistical problems, 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:44.880 lack of support. Ah, so the opportunity wasn't 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:47.950 seized. No. And Henry apparently blamed Hubert 00:22:47.950 --> 00:22:49.809 de Bourgh for the failure. Signs of friction 00:22:49.809 --> 00:22:53.069 there. Blaming his chief minister. Then a few 00:22:53.069 --> 00:22:56.089 years later, 1232, another major figure passes 00:22:56.089 --> 00:22:58.890 Ranulf, Earl of Chester. The one who deferred 00:22:58.890 --> 00:23:01.990 to Marshall. Yes. His death brings William Marshall's 00:23:01.990 --> 00:23:04.569 son, Richard Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, more 00:23:04.569 --> 00:23:06.309 into prominence. The next generation stepping 00:23:06.309 --> 00:23:09.890 up. Indeed. And that same year, 1232, Henry does 00:23:09.890 --> 00:23:11.910 something quite personal. He visits his father 00:23:11.910 --> 00:23:14.630 John's tomb at Worcester Cathedral. Paying respects. 00:23:14.750 --> 00:23:17.539 More than that. He commissions and installs a 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:20.960 new tomb effigy for John. It's actually the oldest 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:23.400 royal effigy in England that still survives. 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:26.500 The oldest one? Wow. Yeah, and the sculptures 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:28.920 placed around it are also interesting. There's 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:31.119 one of Edward the Confessor, whom Henry greatly 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:34.640 admired. His ideal king. Right. And some scholars 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:37.220 think other sculptures might represent bad kings, 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:40.119 perhaps as a contrast or a warning. So he's thinking 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:43.299 about kingship. Good versus bad. It really makes 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:45.799 you wonder, doesn't it? What was Henry contemplating 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:48.339 about the nature of kingship, his father's troubled 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:51.359 legacy, and his own role standing there by that 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:54.039 tomb? A fascinating glimpse into his mindset. 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:57.819 It suggests a deep, ongoing reflection on what 00:23:57.819 --> 00:24:00.180 it meant to be king, the responsibilities the 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:02.930 legacies left behind. So when we look back at 00:24:02.930 --> 00:24:05.430 it all, the early years of Henry III's reign 00:24:05.430 --> 00:24:08.049 were just an absolute whirlwind. Totally chaotic. 00:24:08.069 --> 00:24:11.130 A child king, civil war, foreign invasion. The 00:24:11.130 --> 00:24:13.390 unexpected survival of the Plantagent dynasty 00:24:13.390 --> 00:24:15.670 really down to William Marshall more than anyone. 00:24:15.829 --> 00:24:17.930 His leadership was incredible, yeah. And then 00:24:17.930 --> 00:24:20.430 the slow, difficult consolidation of peace after 00:24:20.430 --> 00:24:23.059 Louis left. Plus the reissuance of Magna Carta 00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:25.240 and that really important Charter of the Forest, 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.880 laying crucial foundations for English law and 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:30.779 liberty. Absolutely fundamental. And even amidst 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:33.359 all the chaos and guidance, you see those early 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:37.079 subtle signs of Henry himself beginning to assert 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:38.940 his own authority. Preparing for the long haul. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:42.859 Exactly. All laying the crucial groundwork for 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:45.039 the very long and often turbulent reign that 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:47.700 followed. It was a period of immense instability 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:51.509 that somehow... against the odds, forged a new 00:24:51.509 --> 00:24:53.930 path for England. It really makes you consider, 00:24:54.009 --> 00:24:57.490 though, how did these formative years, so incredibly 00:24:57.490 --> 00:25:01.089 chaotic, filled with powerful guardians and constant 00:25:01.089 --> 00:25:04.390 threats, how did that ultimately shape Henry's 00:25:04.390 --> 00:25:06.470 long rule? That's the big question, isn't it? 00:25:06.529 --> 00:25:08.549 Did that early reliance on others, which was 00:25:08.549 --> 00:25:11.410 totally necessary at the time, maybe hinder his 00:25:11.410 --> 00:25:13.769 development as a truly strong, decisive king 00:25:13.769 --> 00:25:16.549 later on? Could it have contributed to the later 00:25:16.549 --> 00:25:18.450 periods of unrest that definitely marked his 00:25:18.450 --> 00:25:20.660 reign? It's possible. Definitely something to 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.180 think about. Well, thanks so much for joining 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:24.259 us for this deep dive into such a fascinating 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:27.240 and often forgotten period of history. My pleasure. 00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:29.599 It's an incredible story. What about you listening? 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:31.259 What was the most surprising thing you learned 00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:33.440 today or what moment really stood out to you? 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:35.920 Let us know. Yeah, share your thoughts in the 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:38.519 comments below. And please don't forget to like 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:40.980 and subscribe so you don't miss our next deep 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.259 dive.