Monday, 3 June 2013

The Battle of Chesterfield, some background first


A copy of the Magna Carta, bearing the seal of King John attached to a ribbon underneath. At the time it was agreed and for generations afterwards, Magna Carta was considered to be a touchstone of English liberty for nobles and freemen. Although most of its provisions were fairly arcane measures to stop royal abuse of feudal custom and suzerainty issues that affected only the nobles, whether or not a king was prepared to abide by the great charter or not was thought to be a key indicator of how much he would respect the rights of his citizens. It was the rejection of Magna Carta by King Henry III that laid the foundations for the civil war that was to follow.

from "The Battle of Chesterfield" by Rupert Matthews.

Buy your copy HERE

A book dedicated to the Battle of Chesterfield that ended the Baronial Wars of King Henry III against Simon de Montfort. After Simon de Montfort's death at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, his supporters rallied in Derbyshire. Sending messages to other reformers to rally to their cause the rebels were expecting help from the King of France, but it was Prince Edward (later King EdwardI) who got there first with a royal army. The resulting battle began in the fields south of the town, but moved into the streets of the town and ended in the churchyard where the last rebels surrendered. This book follows the standard pattern set by others in the Bretwalda Battles series. The reasons for and course of the war in question are outlined, then detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies are given with particular reference to this battle. The course of the battleis then followed, with comment on what there is to see at the site today. Short biographies of the commanders are also given. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described.

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