Battle of Northampton (1264)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Battle of Northampton (1264)

The Battle of Northampton happened during the Second Barons' War in England. On 5–6 April 1264, royalist forces loyal to King Henry III attacked Northampton Castle in the town of Northampton and won a decisive victory. They captured Simon de Montfort the Younger, the son of the rebel leader Simon de Montfort.

Background: In early April, Henry III broke with the Provisions of Oxford and raised the royal standard at Oxford on 3 April.

The battle: A royalist force reached Northampton on 5 April and asked the defenders to surrender; they refused. One royalist group attacked the main gate from the south using engines (ladders or similar devices). Another group moved along the western edge to find an easier entrance. The townspeople held the southern defenses, but a breach was found in the north inside the garden wall of St. Andrew's Priory. Simon de Montfort the Younger rode to the breach to help, but he was captured, causing confusion among the defenders. Simon de Montfort the Older tried a last-ditch rescue, but by 6 April the castle had fallen to the king's forces.

Result: Royal victory and a major setback for the baronial revolt.