Henry III
Reign 1216-72 CE

Monetary System
Silver Pennies and Gold Thrymsas
40 Pence = 1 Thrymsa

Henry III was born to John I Lockland and Isbella Taillefer of Angouleme in 1207 CE. Henry III was the first monarch to be crowned in his minority. He inherited the throne at age nine. Henry's first regent was William the Marshall and governed until his death in 1219. Hugh de Burgh was the last of the regents to rule with the power of a king until Henry came to the throne. Henry took the reigns of government at age twenty-five in 1234 CE. Henry levied heavy taxes on the barons to pay for debts incurred through war with Wales and France. Henry was forced by the barons to agree to the Provisions of Oxford that appointed a council. King could do nothing without the council's knowledge and consent.  But Henry reasserted his authority and denied the Provisions. Barons rebelled against the King led by Simon de Montford resulting in the outbreak of civil war in 1264. At the Battle of Lewes, in Sussex, de Montfort defeated Edward, Henry's eldest son and captured both.

In 1265, de Montfort lost the support of the Earl of Gloucester and Edward also managed to escape. Edward with Earl of Gloucester gathered an army and defeated de Montfort at the Battle of Evasham, Worcestershire. De Montfort was killed and King Henry was released. Henry resumed control of the throne but Edward exercised the real power of the throne from then on.

Henry married Eleanor Berenger of Provence in 1236 and had nine children with her. They were Edward, Margaret, Beatrice, Edmund, Richard, John, William, Katherine, and Henry. Henry's long reign of fifty-six years ended with his death in 1272. He was interred at Westminster Abbey in London, England


Silver penny of Henry III 1216-72 CE. s.1355A.
Mint: Canterbury.
Obverse: Prtrait of Henry III.
Reverse: Legend WALTER ON CANTER


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RK. October 16, 2001.