OCR Specification focus:
‘war with France (1230); Rebellion of 1232, causes and results’
Henry III’s early reign saw renewed attempts to recover lost Angevin territories, alongside domestic tensions that culminated in political upheaval. These events shaped the monarchy’s stability.
War with France, 1230
Background to the Campaign
By the late 1220s, Henry III had reached the age of majority and sought to reassert Plantagenet control over lost lands in France, especially Poitou. The desire to reclaim former Angevin inheritance stemmed from both dynastic pride and the need to reinforce the prestige of the English Crown after the losses of King John’s reign.
Strategic Aims
Henry’s campaign of 1230 was planned to:
Regain Poitou and other former Angevin lands lost to Philip II and now held by his successor, Louis IX.
Strengthen alliances with continental powers opposed to French expansion.
Demonstrate military capability early in his personal rule.
Conduct of the Campaign
Henry landed in Brittany in May 1230 with a large force, intending to coordinate with the Duke of Brittany and Peter Mauclerc.
A political map of England and western France at the death of Philip Augustus in 1223, colour-coding Capetian royal domains and remaining Plantagenet possessions (including Brittany, Poitou, and Gascony). Use it to orient the 1230 campaign’s aims and supply routes. The map also labels Bouvines (1214), which is contextual rather than required. Source
The English strategy involved:
Establishing a foothold in Brittany before pushing into Poitou.
Supporting local rebels against Capetian authority.
Attempting a pincer movement on French positions.
However, the campaign faltered because:
The logistics of supply and movement were poorly managed.
French forces avoided decisive battle, frustrating English advances.
The Breton alliance was weaker than expected, with shifting loyalties.
Henry diverted to Gascony rather than directly engaging in Poitou.
The campaign ended without major territorial gains. By October 1230, Henry returned to England having spent vast sums but gained only a short-term truce with France.
Truce: A temporary cessation of hostilities between two opposing sides, often negotiated to allow diplomatic talks or a pause in fighting.
The war revealed Henry’s inexperience in continental warfare and contributed to mounting financial pressures on the Crown.
Financial and Political Impact
The 1230 campaign drained royal resources. War financing relied heavily on taxation and levies, which increased baronial resentment. The absence of victory undermined confidence in Henry’s leadership and strengthened criticism among those already suspicious of royal advisers, particularly foreign-born courtiers.
The Rebellion of 1232
Causes of the Rebellion
The Rebellion of 1232 was rooted in both the fallout from the failed French campaign and shifting power structures at court. Key causes included:
Factional Rivalries: The dismissal of Hubert de Burgh, the long-serving justiciar, in 1232 marked a major political shift.
Miniature from Matthew Paris, Historia Anglorum (BL Royal MS 14 C VII, f.119), showing Hubert de Burgh kneeling at an altar to assert sanctuary in 1232. It visualises the personal drama surrounding his removal and the factional struggle your notes describe. The manuscript context exceeds the syllabus but reinforces authenticity as a primary source. Source
Hubert had been respected by many English barons for his defence of the realm during Henry’s minority.
Rise of Peter des Roches: The Bishop of Winchester, Peter des Roches, a Poitevin, returned to power, bringing with him a circle of foreign favourites.
Tomb of Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester and key royal adviser during the upheavals of 1232. The sculpture itself is not required by the syllabus, but it helps students connect the minister named in the notes to a tangible historical memorial. The image is extremely high-resolution, suitable for zoomed classroom display. Source
This alienated many native barons.
Royal Favouritism: Patronage increasingly favoured foreign courtiers, causing resentment among the English nobility.
Financial Grievances: Heavy taxation after the war, combined with the perception of wasteful expenditure, inflamed opposition.
Justiciar: The chief political and judicial officer in medieval England, acting as regent or the king’s principal minister when necessary.
Course of the Rebellion
Supporters of Hubert de Burgh resisted his removal, leading to unrest in Wales and the Welsh Marches.
Hubert initially took refuge in churches but was eventually captured. His arrest symbolised the triumph of Peter des Roches’s faction.
Rebel activity was sporadic but reflected broader discontent with royal governance.
Results and Consequences
The rebellion’s suppression consolidated the influence of Peter des Roches and his Poitevin allies in the short term. However, it left:
Deepened divisions between the Crown and sections of the baronage.
A precedent for political opposition to foreign influence in English government.
A weakened image of Henry as a ruler dependent on favourites rather than balancing baronial interests.
In the longer term, these tensions contributed to the cycles of unrest that would continue throughout Henry’s reign, ultimately feeding into the political crises of the 1250s.
Significance of 1230–1232 in Henry’s Reign
Demonstrated Henry’s ambition to restore Angevin prestige but also the impracticality of such ambitions without strong alliances and strategic discipline.
Exposed the fragility of domestic political stability when court favouritism and foreign influence clashed with baronial expectations.
Highlighted the enduring importance of capable ministers like Hubert de Burgh in maintaining baronial support.
Showed how military failure abroad could translate directly into political instability at home.
The war with France and the Rebellion of 1232 marked a crucial stage in Henry III’s early personal rule, shaping the balance of power between Crown and nobility for decades.
FAQ
Peter Mauclerc, Duke of Brittany, was a key ally for Henry III in 1230. He invited Henry to land in Brittany and sought support against French royal power.
However, Mauclerc’s loyalty was uncertain. His shifting allegiances between the English king and the French crown weakened the reliability of Henry’s strategic base in Brittany.
Ultimately, this lack of firm commitment contributed to the failure of the campaign.
Brittany was strategically important because:
It provided access to western France and routes into Poitou.
Local resistance to Capetian control offered potential allies.
It avoided immediate confrontation with stronger French forces nearer Paris.
Despite these advantages, Henry’s cautious strategy and overreliance on Breton support limited the effectiveness of his operations.
As Justiciar, Hubert de Burgh had been central to upholding law and order during Henry’s minority. His removal created instability in governance.
Peter des Roches and his Poitevin supporters took over key judicial posts, but they were seen as less impartial. This shift eroded baronial confidence in royal justice and fed wider political grievances.
The 1230 campaign’s lack of success made Henry appear indecisive and militarily weak. Nobles contrasted him unfavourably with earlier Plantagenet kings who had led bold campaigns in France.
The perception that large sums had been wasted without results damaged trust in the king’s leadership and worsened his relations with the baronage.
The rebellion highlighted three patterns that recurred throughout Henry’s reign:
Resentment of foreign favourites dominating government.
Political instability triggered by factional struggles at court.
Use of discontent over taxation and war failures as a rallying point for opposition.
These themes foreshadowed later baronial resistance in the 1240s and 1250s.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
In which year did Henry III launch his campaign in France to recover lost Angevin lands?
Mark Scheme:
1230 = 2 marks.
Any other date = 0 marks.
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain two causes of the Rebellion of 1232.
Mark Scheme:
Award up to 3 marks per cause. Candidates must clearly identify and explain two distinct causes.
Factional rivalries:
Identification of Hubert de Burgh’s dismissal in 1232 (1 mark).
Explanation that his removal angered many barons who saw him as a trusted minister from Henry’s minority (1–2 marks).
Rise of Peter des Roches and foreign favourites:
Identification of Peter des Roches’s return to power and influence of Poitevin courtiers (1 mark).
Explanation that this alienated the English barons, fuelling resentment and opposition (1–2 marks).
Financial grievances (alternative valid cause):
Identification of heavy taxation following the failed French campaign (1 mark).
Explanation that barons were frustrated by the financial burden without military success (1–2 marks).
Maximum 6 marks: 3 marks per well-explained cause. Partial explanation gains 1–2 marks. Two simple identifications without explanation cap at 2 marks total.
