Battle of Northampton (1264)

The Battle of Northampton was a battle in the Second Barons' War.

Battle of Northampton
Part of Second Barons' War
Date April 1264 Location Northampton Castle Result Monarchic victory, fall of Northampton Castle, capture of Simon de Montfort's son.
Belligerents
Pro-monarchy forces	Anti-monarchy forces
Commanders and leaders
Henry III of England Philip Marmion, 5th Baron Marmion of Tamworth	Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester

Siege, attempted relief and capture of Simon De Montfort, Junior

In April 1264 the encounter took place, as part of the Baron's War wherein Henry III of England besieged Simon de Montfort's supporters who were holed in at Northampton Castle. De Montfort (also recorded as de Montford, de Mountford etc.) mounted a rear-guard rescue attempt but on 6 April 1264 the castle fell and De Montfort's son (another Simon) was captured by the King's forces.

Possible side-effect

Participation of academics in the University of Northampton against the monarchy may have contributed to the abolition of the 1261–1265, short-lived, university. This was the third university in England, as followed Oxford and Cambridge, and the twenty-second in Europe. After being advised by bishops and magnates that Northampton was a threat to Oxford University, Henry III dissolved it in 1265 and signed a Royal Decree that banned the establishment of a university in Northampton. The decree was superseded by an Act authorising the University of Northampton to be established in the 21st century.

See also

Account of the battle from Northamptonshire-History.org.uk

References

• R. F. Treharne. The battle of Northampton, 5 April 1264. In: Simon De Montfort and Baronial Reform: Thirteenth-Century Essays. R. F. Treharne, E. B. Fryde (editors). Hambledon Press, London, 1986. ISBN 0-907628-70-2; pp. 299–303