Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,800
Out of the chaos,
darkness, and violence
2
00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,800
of the Middle Ages,
one family rose
3
00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,200
to seize control
of England.
4
00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,000
Generation
after generation,
5
00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,200
they ruled the country
for more than 300 years...
6
00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:37,600
ruthlessly crushing
all competition,
7
00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:43,400
to become the greatest
English dynasty of all time.
8
00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,800
The Plantagenets.
9
00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,600
What I love about
the Plantagenet story
10
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,400
is that it's more shocking,
more brutal,
11
00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,400
and more astonishing than
anything you'll find in fiction.
12
00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:00,800
I want to show you the
Plantagenets as I see them,
13
00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,000
real, living, breathing people
14
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,800
driven by ambition, jealousy,
hatred, and revenge.
15
00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,400
These kings murdered, betrayed,
and tyrannized their way
16
00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,800
to spectacular success.
17
00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,600
For better and for worse,
18
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,200
the Plantagenets forged England
as a nation.
19
00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,000
This time,
20
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,600
a friendship...
21
00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,400
that turns to hatred.
22
00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,600
Plunging England into
civil war
23
00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,800
and changing the monarchy
forever.
24
00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,000
Henry III is the fourth
Plantagenet king.
25
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,000
His grandfather, Henry II,
26
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,200
ruled over more of France
than the French king.
27
00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:54,800
But thanks to the incompetence
of Henry III's dad, King John,
28
00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:56,200
most of those lands
are gone.
29
00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,000
Henry dreams of
getting them back.
30
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:05,000
He's going to be
a great Plantagenet king.
31
00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,600
To be a king in
the the Middle Ages,
32
00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,400
you've got to be tough
and politically savvy.
33
00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,200
You need to fight wars
and win,
34
00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,400
and the winning part
is important.
35
00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,400
You need to dispense justice
fairly and evenly.
36
00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,400
And above everything else,
you need a boundless energy --
37
00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,000
the appetite to get up
in the morning and rule.
38
00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,800
Unfortunately for England,
39
00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,800
Henry III lacks pretty much
every one of those qualities.
40
00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:30,800
Henry's already had two goes
41
00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,200
at retaking his lost
French lands.
42
00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,200
But Henry messed it up
big time.
43
00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,400
Both times it ended in
expensive defeat.
44
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,600
The barons lost all confidence
in the king.
45
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,000
Now, they've turned off
the money supply.
46
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:54,400
Which, of course, they can.
47
00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,800
Henry's completely hamstrung by
Magna Carta.
48
00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,400
Today we think of it as
a charter of human rights
49
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,600
and the foundation
of liberty,
50
00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,800
but to Henry it's just a list of
things he can't do,
51
00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,000
and top of that list is that
he can't raise any new taxes
52
00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:09,600
without the barons' say-so.
53
00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,000
Winning back his
Plantagenet empire
54
00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,200
is going to cost Henry a bomb,
55
00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,200
but Magna Carta means the barons
don't have to cough up.
56
00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:21,200
They think Henry
can talk the talk
57
00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,200
but he can't
walk the walk.
58
00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,800
And that's the truth
about Henry --
59
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,000
he's a total dreamer.
60
00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,800
But give him his due...
61
00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,000
he dreams big.
62
00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,400
This is Westminster Abbey...
63
00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:52,400
Henry built it to restore some
lost Plantagenet pride.
64
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,200
You can imagine Henry
65
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,800
wandering through this
incredible building,
66
00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,200
thinking, "sends off all the
right signals for a great king."
67
00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,000
But as far as
the barons are concerned,
68
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,600
that's exactly what he's not.
69
00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,800
And Henry just isn't
strong enough
70
00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:12,800
to take them on alone.
71
00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:19,800
But in Autumn 1230,
72
00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,200
a man turns up a court
73
00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,600
who changes the course of
Henry's reign.
74
00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,600
A minor French knight
with big ambitions.
75
00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,800
Simon de Montfort.
76
00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:38,200
De Montfort doesn't do
anything by heart.
77
00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,800
He wears a hair shirt under his
clothes 24-7.
78
00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,800
It rakes his skin --
a perpetual reminder
79
00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,200
to stay focuses
on God.
80
00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:51,400
-Excusare me?
-Simon de Montfort.
81
00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:56,000
Basically,
he's a fanatic.
82
00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,400
And he backs his belief
with action.
83
00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,800
He spent his youth
chasing heretics
84
00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,400
around the south of France
with a sword.
85
00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:07,400
Henry sees a man
with a muscular,
86
00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,800
no-nonsense single-mindedness
that he needs
87
00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,000
to achieve his big dreams.
88
00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,800
Henry was so young
when he came to the throne
89
00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,000
that he's grown up with other
people making
90
00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:21,800
all the important
decisions for him.
91
00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:23,800
So, when he meets Simon --
92
00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,400
charismatic, decisive --
93
00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,000
he's looking at him
and thinking,
94
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,000
"I could use
a man like that."
95
00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:36,200
Henry is drawn to de Montfort
like a moth to a flame.
96
00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,000
But it's not just
one-sided,
97
00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,800
because Simon may be pious but
he's also very ambitious.
98
00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:46,600
And he's come to England
looking for
99
00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:48,800
the lucrative title of
Earl of Leicester,
100
00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:50,800
which he thinks
belongs to his family.
101
00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,800
So, he's looking at Henry
102
00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,800
and thinking
exactly the same thing --
103
00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,200
"I could use a man like that."
104
00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:03,600
Unsurprisingly, Henry and Simon
quickly become best mates.
105
00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,200
Simon's soon on
the king's counsel
106
00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,400
basically his
right-hand man.
107
00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,000
He's even steward
at the king's wedding.
108
00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,800
Simon de Montfort
is on the way up.
109
00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,200
Stored at
the National Archives
110
00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:30,200
is an amazing document that has
survived for eight centuries.
111
00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:35,800
It reveals just how
ambitious Simon is.
112
00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,200
This is the king's official copy
of a charter made by
113
00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,200
Simon de Montfort in 1236.
114
00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,800
And its contents aren't really
that important --
115
00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,600
what is important is the way
Simon's referred to himself.
116
00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,600
It says here,
117
00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,600
"Simon de Montfort,
comptes that's earl,
118
00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,600
Earl of Leicester."
119
00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,200
And that's interesting,
120
00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:55,800
because Simon had
lots of the lands
121
00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,200
that went with
the title of earl,
122
00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,200
but didn't have
the title itself.
123
00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,800
And that tells us
quite a lot about Simon.
124
00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,200
Firstly, it tells us
he's ambitious.
125
00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,600
Secondly, it tells us he rates
his relationship with the king
126
00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,000
high enough to go about
using a title
127
00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,200
he doesn't really have
the right to.
128
00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,800
But thirdly,
it tells us he's right --
129
00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:17,400
because this is the king's
official copy,
130
00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,400
Henry's given it
his sign-off.
131
00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:23,200
So, Simon might be cocky,
but it's with very good reason.
132
00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,600
Henry can't get
enough of Simon.
133
00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,000
He propels his new best friend
into the medieval stratosphere.
134
00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,600
Simon marries Henry's sister,
135
00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:43,000
Eleanor, the greatest catch
in the kingdom.
136
00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,200
Henry should have
married her off
137
00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,200
to one of the great
European rulers
138
00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,400
to secure a political alliance,
139
00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,000
but he's convinced Simon
can help him become
140
00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,400
the great king of his dreams.
141
00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,600
So, he gives Eleanor
to his best mate, instead.
142
00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,400
You can imagine Simon is feeling
pretty pleased with himself.
143
00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,400
He's married to
the king's sister,
144
00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,000
he's an insider at court,
145
00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,400
he's the king's favorite.
146
00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,200
Considering where
he came from,
147
00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,200
he hasn't done
too badly.
148
00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:17,600
But Simon's deal
is not all it seems.
149
00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,000
Eleanor should have come
with a massive dowry.
150
00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,600
Instead of giving it
to his friend,
151
00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:25,800
Henry hangs onto the money
and land for himself.
152
00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,000
This decision sows the seeds
153
00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,000
of catastrophe.
154
00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:15,200
In 1239, Henry makes
de Montfort Earl of Leicester.
155
00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,200
Simon's now the king's
brother-in-law,
156
00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:23,200
his chief advisor,
and an English baron.
157
00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,400
But at precisely
this moment of triumph,
158
00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,400
Simon goes too far.
159
00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:34,600
He takes out
a big, fat loan
160
00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,800
using Henry as guarantor.
161
00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,200
As far as he's concerned,
162
00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,600
Henry owes him
for his wife's dowry
163
00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,800
so he doesn't ask Henry first.
164
00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,600
Big mistake.
165
00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:59,600
When Simon tries to
play it down,
166
00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,200
Henry threatens to Simon
and his own sister
167
00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,200
into the Tower of London.
168
00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,600
And he's not kidding.
169
00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,600
For Henry, this is
an outrageous liberty.
170
00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,800
Giving things to Simon,
well, that's one thing,
171
00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,400
but he can't just stand around
while Simon takes what he wants.
172
00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,800
Henry doesn't like it,
but Simon has to go.
173
00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000
Simon and Eleanor
174
00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,400
are forced to flee
to France.
175
00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:35,600
It seems like the end
of a beautiful friendship.
176
00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:40,800
But Henry's going to need Simon
again sooner than he thinks.
177
00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,200
Just three years later,
178
00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:51,800
the king gets himself
into big trouble.
179
00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:57,400
Henry's launched an attack here
at Poitou in western France.
180
00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,200
It was once his
ancestors' territory.
181
00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,800
Henry thought
he could take it back.
182
00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,800
But he couldn't.
183
00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,000
Just like last time,
184
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,200
the barons used Magna Carta to
deny him the taxes he needed.
185
00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,800
But just like last time,
Henry went ahead anyway.
186
00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,800
Attacking Poitou was
spectacularly stupid,
187
00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:27,200
because the Count of Poitou's
brother is the French king.
188
00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:31,000
Henry's forces quickly find
themselves chased down
189
00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,200
by the whole French army.
190
00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,600
In desperation,
Henry has called on
191
00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,400
the one man he believes
can help him --
192
00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:46,200
his estranged and banished
best friend, Simon de Montfort.
193
00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,600
Simon was just back
194
00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,000
from a year-long crusade
in the holy land,
195
00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,800
so his military expertise was
greater than ever.
196
00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,400
And Henry had eaten humble pie
to get him back.
197
00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,800
Now, this is quite
a climb down --
198
00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,400
Henry was the one who banished
Simon in the first place,
199
00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,200
and now he's stuffed
without him.
200
00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:11,000
But even Simon can't salvage
this disaster.
201
00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,000
Henry flees the field.
202
00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,400
He leave Simon fighting
203
00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,000
a desperate rear guard action
with the king's men.
204
00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,600
They retreat toward
the town of Saintes.
205
00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,600
Henry is cowering
inside the town,
206
00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,400
and it's not just
the French army
207
00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:37,000
that comes storming
after him.
208
00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,400
Simon is not used to losing.
209
00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,600
Now, it's histurn
to explode at the king.
210
00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,400
The king himself
reported what Simon says.
211
00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,400
Now, Charles the simple was a
notoriously useless French king
212
00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:07,800
whose subjects put him in jail
213
00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:09,600
'cause he was
such a bad general.
214
00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,400
Thinking about locking up
your king is one thing,
215
00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,200
but actually saying it
to his face
216
00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:15,200
is flirting with treason.
217
00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,800
But Henry can't
call Simon on it.
218
00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:27,400
This is the king's third failure
in France.
219
00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,800
There's now zero chance
the English barons
220
00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,000
will support his ambitions.
221
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,200
He desperately needs an ally
in the aristocracy,
222
00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:39,400
and Simon is still
the Earl of Leicester.
223
00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:47,200
So, when they return to England,
224
00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,400
Henry eats more humble pie.
225
00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,200
He gives Simon
226
00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,400
this whacking great castle
at Kenilworth.
227
00:14:55,400 --> 00:15:00,000
For five years
their friendship holds up.
228
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,600
So, when a foreign crisis
pops up in 1247,
229
00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:09,400
the king turns to his best
friends again.
230
00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,400
All Henry has left of the
Plantagenet empire in France
231
00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,000
is Gascony.
232
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,200
But it's in chaos,
233
00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:17,800
with feuding nobles,
234
00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,200
a French king
itching to invade,
235
00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,400
and its southern borders
under attack.
236
00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,200
As ever, the barons won't let
Henry raise taxes
237
00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:28,800
to sort it out.
238
00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:34,400
They think he'll just
cock it up again.
239
00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:39,000
So, Henry asks Simon
to fix it for him...
240
00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,600
and he'll pay him later.
241
00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,400
Henry admires the fact that
242
00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,600
Simon will take the tough
decisions he can't.
243
00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,000
That's why he sends him --
244
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,400
Simon's a zero-tolerance
sort of guy.
245
00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:54,200
And true to form, he launches
a vicious crackdown
246
00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:55,800
on the Gascon rebels,
247
00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:57,600
even cutting their vines,
248
00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:01,000
which, in wine country,
is a terrible punishment.
249
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,000
But while Simon is
in Gascony,
250
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,200
Henry finds himself drawn in
251
00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,000
by another
powerful figure --
252
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,600
William de Valence,
253
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,400
the king's half-brother,
254
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,400
leader of a French family called
the Lusignans.
255
00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,000
Henry starts giving them land
and titles;
256
00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,600
in exchange, they supplant
the English lords
257
00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,800
and begin to take control of
the government for him.
258
00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,200
Finally, the king has some
allies at home.
259
00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,000
Seems great, doesn't it?
260
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,800
But it's not.
261
00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:37,800
The Lusignans were actually
262
00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:41,800
booted out of France because
they're dangerous, ruthless,
263
00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,200
and pretty nasty.
264
00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,200
Henry's decision
to give them so much power
265
00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,000
will tear the country apart.
266
00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,800
But right now,
267
00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:53,400
all that he can see is that
268
00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,200
they make him feel like
a powerful king.
269
00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,000
Now, he doesn't need
Simon de Montfort
270
00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,400
like he used to.
271
00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:09,200
When the Gascons complain
about Simon's brutality,
272
00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:14,600
Henry hangs his old mate
out to dry.
273
00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,600
Even though de Montfort
274
00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:23,600
has run up huge debts
doing the king's dirty work,
275
00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:25,600
Henry puts him on trial
276
00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,200
for his treatment of
the Gascons.
277
00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,800
The trial takes place here,
278
00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,800
right in the shadow of Henry's
greatest building project,
279
00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:37,600
Westminster Abbey.
280
00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,600
And it's held in what used to be
the monks' dining room --
281
00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,400
you can still see
part of the original wall.
282
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,000
Now, if you'd been sitting on
the other side of that in 1252,
283
00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,200
you'd have witnessed
the end of the friendship
284
00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,400
of Simon de Montfort
and Henry III.
285
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,400
The case is held
286
00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:02,000
before the king
and Simon's fellow barons.
287
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,800
Simon is reeling that his friend
has put him on trial.
288
00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,600
An all-out row kicks off
between them.
289
00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:26,400
Sounds like Simon's
having a dig
290
00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,600
at Henry's piety, but I think
there's more to it than that.
291
00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,400
He's certainly picked an analogy
292
00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,800
designed to hurt
the king's feelings,
293
00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:35,400
but what he's really saying is,
294
00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,200
What's the point in
confessing,
295
00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,200
admitting your mistakes,
296
00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,600
if you're going to do the same
stupid things again afterwards?
297
00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,600
It's like, "You're useless,
you know you're useless,
298
00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,200
but you don't want to do
anything about it."
299
00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:49,600
And that sounds like
300
00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,200
Simon's really overstepping
the mark again.
301
00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:56,000
But he's about to give Henry
a brutal lesson in kingship.
302
00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,800
Simon has taken the political
temperature in the room.
303
00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:11,200
The king hasn't.
304
00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,800
When Henry puts the charges
to a vote...
305
00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,400
Simon walks.
306
00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,800
The other barons are as fed up
with the king and his Lusignans
307
00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:30,600
as Simon is,
308
00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,200
Henry and Simon
309
00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,200
now hate each other
with a passion.
310
00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,600
And England will pay
a terrible price.
311
00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,000
Henry sulks.
312
00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,200
And he lets the Lusignans
off the leash.
313
00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,200
They start grabbing land
and property
314
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,200
in total violation of
Magna Carta.
315
00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,400
Their supporters even ransack
316
00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,600
the Archbishop of Canterbury's
London palace.
317
00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:24,800
Henry simply stands by and lets
them get away with it.
318
00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,400
It just confirms
the barons' view
319
00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,200
that he's a spineless
excuse for a king.
320
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,000
And then in 1256,
Henry does something
321
00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,000
quite extraordinary.
322
00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:42,600
It's spelt out
323
00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,200
in an astonishing
700 year old book
324
00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,000
here in the British Library.
325
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,200
This is the chronicle
of Matthew Paris,
326
00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,800
who is writing at the time of
Henry III
327
00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,200
and had better access than
anyone else
328
00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,000
to Henry and his court.
329
00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,000
And he writes
330
00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,800
that the king gave an order
under the regio figillo,
331
00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:03,200
the royal seal,
332
00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,200
that no brief --
333
00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:07,000
that's any official
government document --
334
00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,400
could be used
to cause injury --
335
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,400
alicui fratri sui --
336
00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:13,400
to any of his brothers...
337
00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,000
which includes
the Lusignans.
338
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,000
So, Henry's saying
339
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,200
the Lusignans can't be
prosecuted --
340
00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,400
effectively they're
above the law.
341
00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,200
And this is
political dynamite.
342
00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:30,200
The barons are furious.
343
00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,400
In retaliation, they squeeze
Henry's finances further.
344
00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,600
Henry's not in
a very good place --
345
00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:39,400
he's lost
the war with France,
346
00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:41,200
he's made a mess
of Gascony,
347
00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,600
he's upset most of his barons,
and he's broke.
348
00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,400
It's time to
sort things out.
349
00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:46,600
So, what does he do?
350
00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,400
Does he kick out
the Lusignans?
351
00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,600
Does he reassure
his barons?
352
00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:52,600
Does he sort out Gascony?
353
00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,000
No, he decides to do
something bold,
354
00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:56,400
something radical,
355
00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:59,000
something no one
will expect.
356
00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,400
He decides to invade Sicily.
357
00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,800
It was actually
the pope's idea.
358
00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:09,000
He asked Henry to do it.
359
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,400
But Henry jumps at
the opportunity
360
00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,200
to take control of
a wealthy country.
361
00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,800
This could help free him from
362
00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:18,400
the control of
the English barons.
363
00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,600
But Sicily is
a thousand miles away.
364
00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,000
It would cost an absolute
fortune to take.
365
00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,800
Henry can't even hang on to his
lands in France,
366
00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,800
so, invading Sicily
is a bonkers idea --
367
00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,400
and everyone can see it...
368
00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,200
except the king.
369
00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,200
Henry demands taxes
from the English barons
370
00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,000
to fund the invasion.
371
00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,200
He thinks he can
get away with it
372
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,800
because de Valence's violent
Lusignans support him.
373
00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:56,800
A group of barons come to London
to put Henry back in his box,
374
00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,800
and it's his old friend
Simon de Montfort
375
00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:03,200
leading the charge.
376
00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,000
Simon de Montfort
comes to London
377
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:42,800
to bring King Henry III
to heel.
378
00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,200
The king stitched him up
over Gascony --
379
00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,200
Simon will never forgive him.
380
00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:55,000
This is Westminster Hall.
381
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,600
More than 900 years old,
382
00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,200
it's all that's left
of the medieval palace.
383
00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,800
And it's here that Simon
and the barons march up
384
00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:03,200
to meet Henry III.
385
00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:05,800
He's sitting up there
on his throne,
386
00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,200
and he thinks they've come to
give him money
387
00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:10,200
for his Sicilian invasion.
388
00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,600
But as soon as they arrive he
realizes something's very wrong.
389
00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,600
Simon and the others might not
have swords in their hands,
390
00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,200
but they're still done up
in their battle armor.
391
00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:22,400
And Henry knows
the tables are turned.
392
00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,400
Simon and his allies aren't here
to take Henry captive --
393
00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,800
what they're demanding
394
00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,400
is almost worse.
395
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,800
First, they want
396
00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:48,800
the Lusignans stripped of all
their English property
397
00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:50,600
and kicked out of
the country.
398
00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,400
Second, they want a permanent
council of barons
399
00:24:55,400 --> 00:25:00,000
to manage the affairs
of the king.
400
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,600
However they want to
phrase it,
401
00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:03,600
the reality is,
402
00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,000
they're taking over.
403
00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,200
This is a nightmare
for Henry.
404
00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,400
Simon and his mates
are saying,
405
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,000
not only are we not going to
help you with Sicily,
406
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,200
but you're such a disaster
407
00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,200
we're going to take away
pretty much all your power.
408
00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,800
They come armed because
they're telling Henry,
409
00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,200
"we're stronger than you" --
and they are.
410
00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:28,800
Henry's forced to agree to
all their demands
411
00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,600
just to get out of the room.
412
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:41,200
But as soon as he does,
413
00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,200
he backtracks on everything
he's promised.
414
00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,400
Eight weeks later,
at a parliament in Oxford,
415
00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:49,800
Henry faces off against
416
00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,800
Simon and the barons,
417
00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:54,600
and he takes
his half-brother William
418
00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:56,600
and his Lusignan thugs
with him.
419
00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:01,400
The town is full of knights from
both sides armed to the teeth.
420
00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,600
The atmosphere is electric,
you can feel the tension.
421
00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:08,000
The country is teetering on
the verge of civil war.
422
00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,200
The hated Lusignans
have no intention
423
00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,800
of giving up their castles
and land.
424
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,600
They think they can take on
Simon de Montfort.
425
00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:25,000
The explosive meeting
becomes known as
426
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,200
the mad parliament.
427
00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,000
Simon directly
428
00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,400
threatens the king's
half-brother.
429
00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:35,200
Make no mistake,
430
00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,000
you'll either
give up your castles
431
00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,400
or you will lose your head.
432
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,400
Is he bluffing,
or is Simon serious?
433
00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,000
Well, frankly,
I wouldn't put it past him.
434
00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,600
This isn't some soft,
wealthy English baron --
435
00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:50,200
this is a hard man,
a crusader,
436
00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,400
a guy who is used to
spilling blood.
437
00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,000
The Lusignans are no match
for de Montfort,
438
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,000
and they know it.
439
00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:04,600
They flee for their lives.
440
00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,200
Henry's resistance collapses.
441
00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:13,000
He has to accept
all the barons' demands.
442
00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:18,400
The new rules
443
00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,200
that he's forced to sign up to
are legally recorded
444
00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,400
in a document called
the Provisions of Oxford.
445
00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,800
This is one of the most
important documents
446
00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,200
in British history.
447
00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,800
Everyone thinks of Magna Carta
as the great bill
448
00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,000
that limited kings' power,
449
00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:39,200
but the Provisions of Oxford
are actually far more extreme.
450
00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:41,800
Henry spent his whole life
railing against
451
00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:43,800
the restrictions of Magna Carta;
452
00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:45,600
the Provisions of Oxford
453
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:49,200
really give him something
to complain about.
454
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,000
Now, we have them here,
copied in French,
455
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:52,800
into a chronicle
from the time.
456
00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,400
And you can see,
a council of quinze --
457
00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:57,600
that's 15 --
barons will meet
458
00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,400
to manage the affairs
of the kingdom.
459
00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:04,200
A parliament will meet tres,
three times a year,
460
00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,000
whether or not
the king summoned it.
461
00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,600
Simon and the barons,
essentially a parliament,
462
00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:12,600
can now make decisions on
463
00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:17,000
pretty much anything
that happens in the kingdom --
464
00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,400
whether or not
Henry likes it.
465
00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,600
He's become
a rubber stamp,
466
00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:27,200
and if he breaks the Provisions,
the penalty is war.
467
00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:30,800
It's a seismic shift
in political power
468
00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:32,800
away from the king,
469
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:34,600
and it's the basis of
470
00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,800
our modern
parliamentary system.
471
00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:41,800
This must be devastating
for Henry.
472
00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,600
He's already lost most of his
ancestral lands in France,
473
00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,200
and now in England,
474
00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:47,800
where his authority is
supposed to be supreme,
475
00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,600
he's virtually powerless
as well.
476
00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:54,600
His whole vision of what it is
to be a king is being shattered.
477
00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:03,600
The barons demand that everyone
swears an oath before God
478
00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:05,800
to abide by the Provisions.
479
00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:12,800
Problem is, Henry and Simon's
attitudes to the oath
480
00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,400
are poles apart.
481
00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,600
Everyone knows Plantagenet kings
and their barons
482
00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,400
have a long history
of breaking their oaths.
483
00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,600
But for Simon, once he's made
a sacred oath with God,
484
00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,600
he's really boxed himself
into a corner.
485
00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:33,000
Remember, this guy is
a religious zealot.
486
00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,200
The oath is sworn at
487
00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,600
Blackfriar's Church
in Oxford
488
00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,600
by Henry, the barons,
489
00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:48,000
and by Simon.
490
00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:55,200
So, after he makes the oath,
491
00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,800
he stays up half the night
in prayer,
492
00:29:57,800 --> 00:29:59,600
he abstains from sex,
493
00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,000
and he's still wearing his
hair shirt under his clothes.
494
00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,000
This is his treaty with God,
495
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:06,600
and he's never
going to break it.
496
00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:10,400
But he knows Henry will.
497
00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:20,200
Within four years,
498
00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,200
de Montfort's worst fears
come true.
499
00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:28,600
Because Henry has sworn the oath
knowing he'll break it,
500
00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,000
he brings back the Lusignans,
and just like before,
501
00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:35,800
they do pretty much
whatever they want.
502
00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:40,200
Henry's gambling the barons will
turn a blind eye
503
00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:44,400
because the alternative
is civil war.
504
00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:48,800
And no one wants that...
do they?
505
00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:53,000
It's a massive miscalculation
by the king.
506
00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,600
One man iscommitted.
507
00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,600
Almost alone amongst
those who've sworn it,
508
00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:06,000
Simon will keep the oath,
whatever the cost.
509
00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:09,000
Simon raises an army
from those barons
510
00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:12,000
who still believe in
the Provisions of Oxford.
511
00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:19,800
In 1264, England is plunged
into a civil war.
512
00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:25,800
This is the town of Lewes,
close to the south coast.
513
00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:29,000
And it's here that
Simon de Montfort and Henry III
514
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,400
face off against each other
in battle for the first time.
515
00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:35,800
Simon may have
the law on his side,
516
00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,200
but however you dress it up
517
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:42,000
he's still taking on
God's anointed king.
518
00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:43,800
He is now a traitor.
519
00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:46,400
And when it comes
to traitors,
520
00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:50,000
Henry can still call on
plenty of support.
521
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,200
By the time
they confront each other,
522
00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:54,800
Simon's on the back foot.
523
00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:57,200
Simon's experienced enough
to know that,
524
00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,400
as he approaches
the town of Lewes
525
00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,000
here on the Sussex Downs,
526
00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:02,800
things don't look
very good for him.
527
00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:04,800
He's injured
with a broken leg,
528
00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,800
his army is massively
outnumbered, two to one,
529
00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:12,400
and Henry is holed-up down there
behind strong town walls.
530
00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,400
Simon knows the king will be
feeling pretty confident,
531
00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,200
but then again,
that's what he's banking on.
532
00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:23,400
He's planning to force the king
into a winner-takes-all battle
533
00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:25,600
on his terms
534
00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,600
by drawing the king
out into the open.
535
00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:33,600
It's a massive gamble,
but that's Simon all over.
536
00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:35,800
Under cover of darkness,
537
00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:40,200
Simon's army takes this ridge
overlooking the town.
538
00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,600
Now, he has the high ground.
539
00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:53,200
Early next morning,
540
00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,600
Simon's army prostrate
themselves on the ground
541
00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:57,200
to be blessed
by the bishops.
542
00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:03,600
Simon and his men
are on a crusade
543
00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,200
for liberty.
544
00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:08,800
He and his men truly believe
that God is on their side.
545
00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:10,400
They're radicalized,
546
00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:12,800
driven by the dream of
a different kind of England
547
00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,400
in which the king
no longer calls the shots.
548
00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:21,400
Henry is fighting for the
absolute supremacy of the king.
549
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:25,000
Simon de Montfort
is fighting to crush it.
550
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:28,800
De Montfort may have
God on his side,
551
00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:31,000
but the king's got
far more men.
552
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,200
He also has a secret weapon...
553
00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:36,400
Edward, his eldest son
and heir --
554
00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:39,600
he's utterly fearless
and champing at the bit
555
00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:42,200
to hack up de Montfort
and his mates.
556
00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,200
Henry finally sees
557
00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:47,400
a chance to win his great
Plantagenet victory --
558
00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,000
how can he lose?
559
00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,400
Just as Simon hoped,
560
00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:55,000
the king comes out fighting.
561
00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:08,400
The battle is a complete
disaster for the king.
562
00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,800
Henry's still
a terrible general.
563
00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,000
His son, Edward, goes charging
off over the hill
564
00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:23,800
after a rabble of civilians.
565
00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:27,000
His brother, Richard, gets
himself besieged in a windmill.
566
00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:29,400
And Henry ends up
forced back here
567
00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:31,200
to the priory of St. Pancras
568
00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:33,400
just outside
the town walls.
569
00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:36,200
Simon dares, and he wins.
570
00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:41,200
The king and his son Edward
are captured.
571
00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:44,400
The king's sword
is surrendered to Simon.
572
00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:50,600
Not exactly the Plantagenet
glory Henry was aiming for.
573
00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:59,400
Simon de Montfort,
once a minor French nobleman,
574
00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:01,400
now holds ultimate power
575
00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,600
in England.
576
00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,000
This is a revolution.
577
00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,000
Simon's taken an army
to the field
578
00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:10,200
to seize the power
of an anointed king.
579
00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:12,000
It's treason...
580
00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,600
and it's also an unforgivable
betrayal of friendship.
581
00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:17,400
The king's dreams of glory
582
00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:20,400
have been crushed.
583
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,600
But there is still
one Plantagenet
584
00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:25,800
who could save the dynasty --
585
00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:27,800
and it's not Henry.
586
00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:58,800
In the aftermath of Lewes,
Henry's in a desperate state.
587
00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,200
He's been humiliated
in battle -- again,
588
00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,000
his nemesis,
Simon de Montfort,
589
00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:04,600
is running the country,
590
00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:07,200
and to top it all off,
Henry is Simon's prisoner.
591
00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:10,800
The king's dreams of
Plantagenet glory
592
00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:13,800
have been
comprehensively trashed.
593
00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:16,600
For more than a year,
594
00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,000
Simon de Montfort dominates
the government of England
595
00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:20,800
from his castle
at Kenilworth.
596
00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:24,200
Henry's still king
in theory;
597
00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:26,600
in reality, he's just
598
00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,600
Simon's puppet.
599
00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,800
To maintain his hold
on the country,
600
00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:33,400
Simon keeps the king with him.
601
00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:36,000
Everything in the government
is decided
602
00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,200
under the direction of
de Montfort.
603
00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:42,200
For the first time
in the history of England,
604
00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:44,600
a political movement
has succeeded
605
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:47,000
in crushing
a tyrannical king.
606
00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,600
Sounds very noble,
doesn't it?
607
00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:51,400
But the reality is that
608
00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,800
this is at least as much
about greed as liberty.
609
00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:56,600
Simon may have set himself up
610
00:36:56,600 --> 00:37:00,000
as a man who's selflessly doing
what's right for England,
611
00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,600
but actually there's
a lot more going on.
612
00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:06,200
Even though he has this vast
castle at Kenilworth,
613
00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:09,600
Simon's been brooding that
the king short-changed him
614
00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:11,400
on money and land.
615
00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:14,600
But now he has Henry just
rubber-stamping his decisions,
616
00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:16,800
it's an opportunity
too good to miss.
617
00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:21,200
Simon decides to take
what he believes he's owed.
618
00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:26,200
De Montfort takes money and land
for himself and his family.
619
00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:28,600
And by keeping the king
close to him,
620
00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,000
Simon thinks he's got
everything under control.
621
00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:34,600
It's a fatal
error of judgment.
622
00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:43,000
It's not Henry who threatens
Simon's hold on England --
623
00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:45,200
the man he should be watching
624
00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:48,000
is the 25 year old heir to the
throne, Edward.
625
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:51,600
But Simon's taken his eye
off the ball
626
00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:54,200
and left the prince in Hereford
under house-arrest.
627
00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:56,000
With things going so well,
628
00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:59,200
Simon's relaxed the guard
on Prince Edward --
629
00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:02,000
he even allows him
out riding.
630
00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:05,800
So, Edward plays a game
with his captors,
631
00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:08,200
swapping horses
632
00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:11,000
to find the fastest.
633
00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,400
They think it's all great fun
634
00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,400
until he finds
the fastest horse.
635
00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:48,000
Prince Edward finds plenty of
nobles increasingly nervous
636
00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:51,000
that Simon will
snatch the crown.
637
00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,600
And that scares the barons
more than
638
00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:56,400
Henry's abysmal reputation.
639
00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:58,800
Edward promises to let them
keep the reforms,
640
00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:00,800
and that persuades many of them
641
00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:03,000
to defect back to
the Plantagenet cause.
642
00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:09,400
The Plantagenet army
is back on the march.
643
00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,200
The end game in
a 25-year grudge match
644
00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:23,000
between the former best friends
Henry III and Simon de Montfort
645
00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,800
takes place here
in Worcestershire.
646
00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:28,200
Simon's got the king
with him
647
00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:29,600
for insurance --
648
00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:32,000
he's trying to get back
to Kenilworth
649
00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:33,800
to gather reinforcements.
650
00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:35,800
But Edwards is
moving too fast.
651
00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:37,600
At the beginning of August,
652
00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:40,000
he catches up with Simon
here at Evesham.
653
00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:46,000
From the top of
the old Abbey tower,
654
00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,000
Simon sees the Plantagenet army
655
00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:50,400
approaching in the distance.
656
00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:53,200
He's pinned-down
and outnumbered.
657
00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:56,800
De Montfort realizes
658
00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:00,200
that if Edward's men free Henry,
the game is up.
659
00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:06,000
So, Simon disguises the king in
one of his own uniforms.
660
00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:10,200
If he goes down,
he's taking Henry with him.
661
00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:15,000
He doesn't wait for the
Plantagenets to come for him --
662
00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:17,800
Simon attacks first.
663
00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:20,600
This is Simon the crusader.
664
00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:23,000
Last time the odds were as
stacked against him,
665
00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:24,400
he dared and won.
666
00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:26,000
So, this time,
he dares again.
667
00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:28,800
He can't help it,
it's what he's good at.
668
00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:31,200
Simon's army charges out
in a single wedge,
669
00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:33,600
hoping to punch through
enemy ranks.
670
00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,600
They race up through
the center of Evesham
671
00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:39,200
to the fields
overlooking the town
672
00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:43,400
where the Plantagenet soldiers
are lined-up.
673
00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:46,600
Simon gambles that because
he's got the king with him,
674
00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:50,200
the Plantagenet army will be
too cautious to attack.
675
00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:53,200
But Simon's as wrong as you get.
676
00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:57,000
This time, the army's rallied
behind the king's son, Edward,
677
00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:59,200
and they're out for
bloody revenge.
678
00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:03,000
The two armies meet here
679
00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:06,000
in the fields
outside Evesham.
680
00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:12,600
As the Plantagenet army
piles in,
681
00:41:12,600 --> 00:41:17,000
the battle descends into
an orgy of violence.
682
00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:27,000
The royalists cut down
4,000 of the rebels.
683
00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:29,400
The battlefields
and streets of Evesham
684
00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:31,600
are piled high
with their corpses.
685
00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:36,200
More than 30 of Simon's knights
are slaughtered.
686
00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:40,000
But there is only one way
to end the rebellion for good.
687
00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:43,800
Edward sends a 12-knight hit
squad onto the battlefield
688
00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:46,200
with one mission --
689
00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:50,000
find and kill
Simon de Montfort.
690
00:41:54,200 --> 00:41:57,800
King Henry, still dressed as
one of de Montfort's men,
691
00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:00,200
is almost taken out
by his own hit squad.
692
00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:14,400
Simon, already badly wounded
by a lance,
693
00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,000
is not so lucky.
694
00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:30,000
Simon's killed somewhere on
these fields outside Evesham.
695
00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:33,200
And some of the chroniclists go
so far as to call it murder.
696
00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:35,000
This might be a battlefield,
697
00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:37,400
but 12 knights ganging up
against one
698
00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:40,000
is hardly playing
by the rules.
699
00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:42,200
But even then,
just killing Simon
700
00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:44,000
isn't enough
for Henry's men.
701
00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:45,600
This is an upstart,
702
00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:47,000
an outsider,
703
00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:49,000
someone who's
taken on a king
704
00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:51,400
and undermined what
being a king means.
705
00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:55,200
Simon de Montfort,
traitor to the crown,
706
00:42:55,200 --> 00:43:00,000
once the most powerful man
in England, dies.
707
00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:04,000
The message to everyone
must be crystal clear --
708
00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:06,400
no one defies the king
and lives.
709
00:43:06,400 --> 00:43:11,600
The body of the king's
once-best friend is butchered.
710
00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:14,000
His testicles are cut off
711
00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:16,600
and then
rammed into his mouth
712
00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:19,000
before his head
is cut from his body
713
00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:21,400
and paraded on a spear.
714
00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:33,200
Henry finally has his moment of
Plantagenet glory,
715
00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:38,800
but in truth, it's his son,
Edward, who delivers it.
716
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:41,000
Henry is just a bystander.
717
00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:44,400
But the price of victory
over Simon
718
00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:48,000
is accepting the reforms that
Simon was fighting for --
719
00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:50,400
because that's the deal
Edward sealed
720
00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:53,000
to raise an army.
721
00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:57,400
Henry's won the battle
but he's lost the war.
722
00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:03,600
The king's dream of
absolute power
723
00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:06,400
has died with Simon.
724
00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:12,200
Dismal as Henry's reign was,
725
00:44:12,200 --> 00:44:14,000
he still left behind him
726
00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:17,000
two of the greatest legacies of
the whole Plantagenet dynasty,
727
00:44:17,000 --> 00:44:18,800
and they're both right here.
728
00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:23,000
Westminster Abbey -- Henry's
extraordinary palace to God --
729
00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:25,400
and over there,
Parliament,
730
00:44:25,400 --> 00:44:29,400
seat of the democracy that still
governs our country today.
731
00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:32,600
It was born not out of wisdom
and smart politics,
732
00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:36,800
but out of the passion and fury
of a brutal, bloody feud
733
00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:40,800
between two best friends.
734
00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:43,400
Next time...
735
00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:46,000
Edward II --
736
00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:48,600
his short-sighted
obsessions
737
00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:52,400
plunged England into a nightmare
of political violence,
738
00:44:52,400 --> 00:44:55,800
bloodlust, and most of all,
revenge.
53053
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.