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| Battle of Northampton | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofSecond Barons' War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Royal forces | Baronial forces | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Henry III Roger Mortimer Philip Marmion | Simon de Montfort Simon de Montfort the Younger (POW) | ||||||
TheBattle of Northampton took place during theSecond Barons' War. The battle was a decisive victory for the royalist forces of KingHenry III of England, who tookNorthampton Castle and capturedSimon de Montfort (the Younger), son ofSimon de Montfort (the Older).
In April 1264 the Second Barons' War began. Absolved by PopeUrban IV from his oath to observe theProvisions of Oxford, Henry III summoned his men and raises theRoyal Standard atOxford, on April 3. A royalist advanced party reachedNorthampton on a Friday evening onApril 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 ofSt. 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 theUniversity 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 toOxford 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 The decree was superseded by an Act authorising the University of Northampton to be established in the 21st century.
52°14′13″N0°54′18″W / 52.237°N 0.905°W /52.237; -0.905
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