Henry III Interesting Facts

1 Crowned without ceremony

The civil war ignited by King John was still raging at the time Henry became King. He was crowned at Gloucester Abbey by the Bishop of Winchester. The Archbishop of Canterbury wasn’t able to conduct the ceremony. He was in Rome begging the Pope for his job, having lost it in support of Magna Carta. Henry wore his mother’s tiara for the ceremony. His father had lost the crown jewels to the sea the previous year.

2 Two Coronations

Henry’s first coronation had been a hurried affair. Only ten days stood between the death of his father and the crown on his head. His second coronation was held four years later in the by now customary surroundings of Westminster Abbey. It was a lavish, peaceful and well-supported affair.

3 No taxation without representation

Henry taxed his subjects heavily to fund his unsuccesful campaigns in France. The barons revolted. They could not bear to pay money to a king who took no guidance from them. In 1258, the barons formed a committee and the provisions of Oxford was drawn up.

4 First London Zoo

Henry opened the first zoo In England at the Tower of London. It housed a polar bear that swam in the Thames, as well as three lions, some snakes, a rhinoceros, an elephant, and an ostrich. People could choose to pay to view the animals either with money or with a cat or a dog to feed to the lions.

5 One of England’s longest reigning monarchs

The first king since the Norman Conquest to become King of England while still just a boy at nine years old. With 56 years on the throne, he lived to be one of England’s longest reigning monarchs.

6 Believed in the divine right of kings to rule

Magna Carta was a thorn in Henry’s side. He wanted to rule with absolute right. Considering the interests of commoners and nobles interfered with his vision of a mighty king. He preferred generally to rule alone, without official ministers. Often those from whom he did take counsel were relatives of his French wife Eleanor. This upset his English subjects even more.

7 The Tournament of Lincoln

The battle between Prince Louis’ forces and those of William Marshal in 1216 was fought in Lincoln. The lanes in which they fought were so narrow, and jousting was so popular throughout europe, the routing of Prince Louis became known as the Tournament of Lincoln.

8 England’s first great naval victory

Prince Louis’ fleet was overwhelmed by British might off the coast of Sandwich. Despite having a commander who was said to be in league with the devil, the French fell. The English used pots of powdered quicklime which left their French foe blinded and incapable of defending themselves

9 Oxford and Cambridge Universities

Far from being the august and venerated instituations they are today, the original universities were rowdy places. Common children were taught by common men. The students quarrelled, drank and begged their way through their studies. They were renowned for their lack of respect for tax collectors or authority in general.

10 Religious fervour

So great was Henry’s admiration of Edward the Confessor, he had a mural of him painted on his bedroom wall. He didn’t stop there. He also erected a shrine to him at Westminster Cathedral and named his first son after him.

11 Henry’s first regent, William Marshal - Earl of Pembroke

William Marshal, Henry’s first custodian, is the same William who was given as security to King Stephen by his father, John Marshal. John promised Stephen on his son’s life that he would keep to an agreement they had made. When he broke the agreement and Stephen threatened to hang William, John said ‘I have hammer and anvil enough to make another’. William was treated well by Stephen, despite his threat, and it is thought that this show of kindness and mercy made William the fair-minded, well-respected man he grew to be.