Like his crusading father before him, Simon de Montfort’s combination of charisma, determination and fearlessness, reinforced by a wife with similar qualities, made him one of the greatest men of his age. This biography follows his life from his birth and upbringing in France until his defeat and death at the hands of the future Edward I. The pivotal year was 1264, when Montfort captured Henry III in battle, established a constitutional monarchy and, in the act he is most famous for, revolutionised the representation of Parliament, the future Commons. While calling him the founder of that institution begs too much, Montfort recognised and cultivated a new awakening in national identity and political awareness not seen since before the Norman Conquest two centuries earlier.

Henry’s long reign of fifty-six years saw many changes taking place in England and on the Continent, most strikingly the rise of humanism and power politics, and Montfort’s entrée to the courts of Paris and Rome was instrumental in his rebellion against the king. Not for another four hundred years, until the advent of Oliver Cromwell, would England see a revolution led by a figure of comparable stature.

• 2015 marks the 750th anniversary of Simon de Montfort's parliament, the earliest forerunner of the modern parliament
• There

  are plans underway in the House of Commons to declare 2015 'Year of

  Parliament' combining Montfort Parliament 750 with Magna Carta 800.

  January-March will be given over to events for Montfort, culminating perhaps in

  another address to the queen as was delivered on the 700th anniversary in 1965

• Local interest in Leicester: De Montfort University and De Montfort Hall named after him
  

• Pre-publication quotes from leading authorities on the subject:

  David

  Carpenter, John Maddicott, Louise Wilkinson

• Author interested in doing promotional events