Author Description

Although Henry III ruled England for fifty-six years, surprisingly little is known about him. The first profile of Henry III in forty years, this book presents a radically new interpretation of his reign to 1245, revealing how the crippling effects of the king's long minority and the failure of his administrators' attempts to surmount these difficulties set the stage for the 1258 baronial revolt. Integrating political, diplomatic, economic, and social history, the book offers fresh insight into the world of medieval royal policy and finance.