Professor Louise Wilkinson: A Rebel Princess: Eleanor de Montfort, Countess of Leicester & Pembroke

Professor Louise Wilkinson
A Rebel Princess: Eleanor de Montfort, Countess of Leicester and Pembroke, and the Second Barons' War
In her own time, Eleanor de Montfort (d. 1275), countess of Leicester and Pembroke, was one of the most famous women in England. She also presided over one of the most important domestic establishments in the kingdom for the duration of the Second Barons' War. As the sister of King Henry III, aunt of the Lord Edward, and wife of the rebel leader Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, Eleanor occupied a position at the very heart of political affairs up to, and after, her husband's death at the Battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265. Fortunately for us, a unique insight into Eleanor's activities is provided by her surviving household roll for 1265 (British Library Additional MS 8877). Drawing on the contents of this remarkable document, this talk will explore Eleanor's contribution to supporting the Montfortian war effort from her bases at Wallingford, Odiham, Portchester, and Dover during this momentous year, examining her communications with her husband, sons, and Montfortian allies in the Marches (and elsewhere), the impact of warfare on her family and household, and her preparations to enter French exile in the autumn.
Professor Louise Wilkinson is Professor of Medieval Studies in the School of History and Heritage at the University of Lincoln. After completing her doctorate at King's College London in 1999, she worked at the National Archives and Canterbury Christ Church University, before joining Lincoln in 2020. She is a councillor of the Lincoln Record Society, joint general editor of the Pipe Roll Society, and was a co-investigator of the AHRC-funded ‘Henry III Fine Rolls’ and ‘Magna Carta’ projects. She has published widely on medieval women. Her books include Eleanor de Montfort: A Rebel Countess in Medieval England (2012) and The Household Roll of Eleanor de Montfort, Countess of Leicester and Pembroke (2020).