Battle of Northampton (1264)

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The Battle of Northampton took place during the Second Barons' War. A decisive victory for the royalist forces of King Henry III of England, who took Northampton Castle and captured Simon de Montfort (the Younger), son of Simon de Montfort (the Older).

In April 1264 the Second Barons' War began. Absolved by Pope Urban IV from his oath to observe the Provisions of Oxford, Henry III summoned his men and raises the Royal Standard at Oxford, on April 3. A royalist advanced party reached Northampton on a Friday evening on April 5, and summoned the defenders to surrender, which they declined to do. Several sources suggest the garrison expected to hold out until Simon de Montfort (the Older) could relieve them.

On April 5 1264 the encounter took place, royalist forces advanced over the water meadows south of the town to attack its main gate with 'engines', which might just mean ladders or hurdles.^[1] Meanwhile, another party rode clockwise along the built-up area's western perimeter, looking for an easier entrance. While the townsmen entrusted with the southern sector held up the initial attack, the outflanking detachment found a breach in the garden wall of St. Andrew's Priory, at the north of the town. Simon de Montfort (the Younger) reacted to the break-in, riding up on his horse with his squire and an unknown sergeant to contest the breach. But Simon was captured and threw the defenders into disarray. Simon de Montfort (the Older) mounted a rear-guard rescue attempt but on April 6 the castle fell.^[2]

Participation of academics in the University of Northampton against the monarchy may have contributed to the abolition of the 1261–1265, short-lived, university.^{[citation needed]} This was the third university in England, after 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 The decree was superseded by an Act authorising the University of Northampton to be established in the 21st century.

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

52°14′13″N 0°54′18″W / 52.237°N 0.905°W / 52.237; -0.905

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