King Henry III’s reign (1216–1272) was marked by chronic financial difficulties, military failures, and political strife. Henry sought to assert strong royal authority, but his policies often alienated the English nobility. The king’s frequent demands for taxes to fund foreign wars and his reliance on foreign favorites bred resentment.

The barons, led by powerful nobles like Simon de Montfort, sought to curb the king’s power, insisting on reforming royal governance to include their input—especially on matters of taxation and administration. This struggle was rooted in the aftermath of the Magna Carta (1215), which had established early limits on royal power but had not been fully enforced.

Causes of the First English Revolution

By the 1250s, discontent among the barons escalated into open rebellion. Key grievances included:

• Royal Mismanagement: Henry III’s inefficient administration and favoritism toward foreign courtiers undermined confidence.
   

• Excessive Taxation: The king’s heavy financial demands strained the nobility and the wider population.
   

• Lack of Consultation: Barons demanded a greater say in government, especially regarding taxation and policy.
   

• Weakening of Magna Carta: The king’s disregard for Magna Carta principles inflamed tensions.

Simon de Montfort emerged as a leader who embodied these demands for reform. His vision went beyond mere baronial privileges—he sought to establish a more representative form of governance that included broader participation beyond the elite nobility. shutdown123