King Henry III (1207-1272)

When King John died in 1216 his nine year old son became king - King Henry III.

Statue of Henry III at Salisbury Cathedral.

Henry III was born on 1 October 1207 at Winchester - the son of King John, and Isabella of Angoulême.

Henry III was King of England, Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine from 1216 until his death in 1272.

Nine year old Henry was first crowned king on 28 October 1216 at Gloucester Cathedral and later on 17 May 1220 at Westminster Abbey.

England was ruled temporarily by two French regents, Peter des Roches and Hubert de Burgh plus Sir William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke who was Protector of England.

The first challenge faced by the young king was the continuation of the first Barons War. The war ended in 1217 when Prince Louis of France renounced his claim to the English throne and Alexander II of Scotland paid homage to King Henry. In 1221 Alexander II of Scotland married Henry's sister, Joan.

The barons had continued to make changes to the Magna Carta and in 1225, King Henry III reaffirmed the document. During his rule Henry continued to encounter confrontations with the barons over a variety of issues including England's financial commitments to the papacy. King Henry took full control of the government of England in 1227, but retained Hubert de Burgh as his main adviser until 1232.

In 1236 King Henry married Eleanor of Provence. Two sons, Edward I and Edmund, plus three daughters, Margaret who became Queen of Scots, Beatrice and Katherine, lived to adulthood.

On 26 December 1251 Alexander III of Scotland married Henry's daughter, Margaret, in York. Alexander was 10 and Margaret was 11 when they married.

For a number of years Robert de Ros and John Balliol were appointed as guardians of Alexander III of Scotland until it was considered that he was old enough to rule in his own right.

In 1258 the English barons led by Simon de Montfort - brother-in-law of Henry III, rebelled against what they considered to be Henry's misgovernment. They presented a list of grievances to King Henry, who signed the Provisions of Oxford, further limiting royal power.

Henry repudiated the Provisions of Oxford in 1261.

Once again the barons objected to high taxes imposed by the king and the Second Barons War between the rebel barons and the king of England began in 1264.

Simon De Montfort and his troops defeated King Henry and his supporters at Lewes. Henry was captured in 1264 and was imprisoned until Prince Edward and his supporters defeated de Montfort at Evesham in 1265.

The Dictum of Kenilworth signed on 30 October 1266 restored Henry's authority and annulled the Provisions of Oxford.

King Henry was free but was no longer actively involved in political life. King Henry's health had deteriorated so his son, Edward, acted as regent for the remainder of Henry's life.

Henry spent much of his life improving the country's architectural monuments such as Westminster Palace and Westminster Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral, St Alan's Cathedral, Wells Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedral.

Henry had laid the foundation stone for the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey in 1245. The new church was consecrated on 13 October 1269 and Henry was one of the pall bearers carrying the coffin of St Edward (Edward the Confessor) which was placed in a new position in the church.

King Henry III died on November 16, 1272 at Westminster, aged 65 years, and was buried at Westminster Abbey. King Henry III reigned for 53 years. His son, Edward I was the next king.

In 1235 Henry III was given three lions by the Holy Roman Emperor. The animals were housed at the Tower of London. Over the years other animals were added to the collection at the Tower Menagerie making this the first London Zoo. From December 1831 the animals were rehoused at Regents Park. Wire sculptures of some of the animals can currently be found at the Tower of London.

Models of animals held in Tower Menagerie.