Who was Simon de Montfort?
Q: Who was Simon de Montfort?
A: Simon de Montfort was a Franco-English nobleman who inherited the title and estates of the earldom of Leicester in England.
Q: What was the Second Barons' War and how was Montfort involved in it?
A: The Second Barons' War was a rebellion against King Henry III of England. Montfort led the rebellion.
Q: What did Montfort achieve during his rule in England?
A: During his rule, Montfort called two famous parliaments. The first, the Oxford Parliament of 1258, stripped the King of his unlimited authority. The second parliament was in 1265, in which de Montfort included ordinary citizens from the towns. Montfort is seen as one of the builders of modern parliamentary democracy.
Q: What did Simon de Montfort do to the Jews in England?
A: As Earl of Leicester, Montfort expelled Jews from the city. When he became ruler of England, he cancelled debts owed to Jews. The Jews' records were violently seized. In London and Worcester, this policy led to massacres.
Q: When did Montfort die and how did he die?
A: After ruling for just over a year, Montfort was killed by forces loyal to the King in the Battle of Evesham.
Q: What is the significance of Montfort's inclusion of ordinary citizens in the second parliament of 1265?
A: Montfort's inclusion of ordinary citizens in the second parliament of 1265 is significant because it is seen as one of the builders of modern parliamentary democracy.
Q: What is the significance of Montfort's expulsion of Jews from the city and cancellation of debts owed to Jews?
A: Montfort's expulsion of Jews from the city and cancellation of debts owed to them is significant because it led to massacres in London and Worcester. It also highlights the anti-Semitic policies of the time.
