The Battle of Evesham
by Ellen Castelow
The Battle of Evesham was fought on the morning of the 4th August 1265, between the forces of a number of rebel barons led by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester and the army of King Henry III, under his son Prince Edward (the future King Edward I).
De Montfort’s rebel forces of around 6,000 men were trapped in Evesham by a Royal army of at least twice this number. Despite being heavily outnumbered, de Montfort charged his cavalry into the enemy ranks in an attempt to split the royal forces.
The battle lasted for some hours before finally turning into a bloody massacre. Both de Montfort and his son Henry were killed, along with around 4,000 of his soldiers (pictured below).
Click here for a Battlefield Map
Key Facts:
Date: 4th August, 1265
War: Second Barons’ War
Location: Evesham, Worcestershire
Belligerents: Royalists, Barons
Victors: Royalists
Numbers: Royalists around 10,000, Barons around 5,000
Casualties: Unknown, although it is thought the Barons lost around 4,000 men
Commanders: Prince Edward (Royalists – later King Edward I), Simon and Peter de Montfort (Barons)
