Battle of Evesham

Significance

The Battle of Evesham was one of the two principal engagements of the Second Barons' War and proved decisive in ending the baronial rebellion against the English crown. Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, the leader of the rebel barons, was defeated by the royal forces commanded by Prince Edward, acting on behalf of his father King Henry III. The rebels suffered severe casualties — approximately 4,000 of a force of 5,000 — indicating near-total destruction of the baronial army. The death or neutralization of de Montfort and senior commanders including Henry de Montfort, Guy de Montfort, Peter de Montfort, and Hugh le Despenser effectively broke the organized military resistance of the barons. By extinguishing the leadership of the rebellion in a single engagement, Evesham restored royal authority and ended the constitutional crisis that had defined the conflict since 1264.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (12)