Battle of Evesham

Battle of Evesham
Part of Second Barons' War

Death and mutilation of de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham
Date4 August 1265 (1265-08-04)
Location
Evesham, Worcestershire
52°06′29″N 01°56′46″W / 52.10806°N 1.94611°W / 52.10806; -1.94611
Result Royal victory
Belligerents
Royal forces Baronial forces
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Commanders and leaders
Prince Edward
Gilbert de Clare
Humphrey de Bohun
John de Warenne
William de Valence
Roger Mortimer
Simon de Montfort 
Henry de Montfort 
Guy de Montfort (POW)
Peter de Montfort 
Nicholas de Segrave (POW)
Humphrey (V) de Bohun (POW)
Hugh le Despenser 
Strength
c. 10,000 c. 5,000
Casualties and losses
Few Nearly 4,000[1]
Battle of Evesham is located in England
Battle of Evesham
Location within England

The Battle of Evesham (4 August 1265) was one of the two main battles of 13th century England's Second Barons' War. It marked the defeat of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and the rebellious barons by the future King Edward I, who led the forces of his father, King Henry III. It took place on 4 August 1265, near the town of Evesham, Worcestershire.

With the Battle of Lewes, de Montfort had won control of royal government, but after the defection of several close allies and the escape from captivity of Prince Edward, he found himself on the defensive. Forced to engage the royalists at Evesham, he faced an army twice the size of his own. The battle soon turned into a massacre; de Montfort himself was killed and his body mutilated. It was described by the contemporary historian Robert of Gloucester as the "murder of Evesham, for battle it was none".[2] Though the battle effectively restored royal authority, scattered resistance remained until the Dictum of Kenilworth was signed in 1267.

  1. ^ English Heritage 1995, p. 2.
  2. ^ Robert of Gloucester, Chronicle translated by Stevenson, Rev. Joseph, ed. (1858) in The Church Historians of England: Prereformation series, Volume 5, Part 1; Seeleys; p. 375.