Amaury de Montfort, Canon of York
Encyclopedia
Amaury de Montfort was the fourth son to parliamentary pioneer Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
, and Eleanor of England, daughter of King John
.
Amaury entered the priesthood as a young man, and held the positions of Treasurer of York Cathedral, canon of Rouen, Evreux, London and Lincoln. He served as a papal chaplain as well.
After the deaths of his father and older brother Henry de Montfort
at the Battle of Evesham
in 1265 (by men under the command of then Prince Edward, later Edward I
, aka Edward Longshanks), Amaury fled to France
with his mother, younger sister, and surviving brothers.
Amaury de Montfort soon began studying medicine and theology at the University of Padua
. His older brothers, Guy de Montfort, Count of Nola
and Simon de Montfort (the younger) were seeking their fortunes in Italy
. A tragic turn of events lead to the bloody 1271 confrontation between Guy and Simon and their cousin Henry of Almain
(also Edward's cousin, by virtue of his father, Henry III
being elder brother to both Eleanor of England and Henry of Almain's father, Richard, Earl of Cornwall).
Henry, whom the de Montfort sons considered a traitor to their father's ideals, was attacked during mass at Viterbo
, and murdered on the altar steps, resulting in the excommunication of both de Montfort sons. While Amaury was not in Viterbo, and was not involved in the murder, Edward swore vengeance upon all of Simon de Montfort's sons, Amaury included. Simon the younger died that year, reportedly of a tertian fever, while Guy
managed to appeal to the pope (with the aid of his father-in-law), resulting in his return to the church.
In 1275, after the death of his mother at Montargis Abbey, Amaury, by then a Papal Chaplain, accompanied his younger sister Eleanor de Montfort
on a winter sea voyage to Wales
and her new husband, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
(the grandson of Llywelyn Fawr). Intercepted at sea by mercenaries in the employ of now King Edward I, both Amaury and Eleanor were taken captive.
Following two paragraphs taken mainly from Chronica, ascribed to William Rishanger, a monk of St. Albans, ed. H.T. Riley [1865], 87, 99.
While Eleanor's captivity was gentle and relatively short-lived (she was married to Prince Llywelyn at King Edward's expense in 1278), Amaury was held 'without rigour' in Corfe Castle
and later in Sherborne Castle
. After requests from the Pope, Prince Llywelyn and Archbishop John Peckham
of Canterbury, Amaury was released after swearing at London not to return to England unless invited by the king.
Upon his release in mid April 1282, Amaury returned to France, never again to see his sister, who died in childbirth that very year, mere months before the death of her husband Llewylyn and the annexation of North Wales to the English crown. Amaury after some years renounced his clerical career and became a knight, apparently dying soon afterwards in Italy, possibly after 1301.
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
, and Eleanor of England, daughter of King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
.
Amaury entered the priesthood as a young man, and held the positions of Treasurer of York Cathedral, canon of Rouen, Evreux, London and Lincoln. He served as a papal chaplain as well.
After the deaths of his father and older brother Henry de Montfort
Henry de Montfort
Sir Henry de Montfort was the son of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, and with his father played an important role in the struggle of the barons against King Henry III...
at the Battle of Evesham
Battle of Evesham
The Battle of Evesham was one of the two main battles of 13th century England's Second Barons' War. It marked the defeat of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and the rebellious barons by Prince Edward – later King Edward I – who led the forces of his father, King Henry III...
in 1265 (by men under the command of then Prince Edward, later Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, aka Edward Longshanks), Amaury fled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with his mother, younger sister, and surviving brothers.
Amaury de Montfort soon began studying medicine and theology at the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
. His older brothers, Guy de Montfort, Count of Nola
Guy de Montfort, Count of Nola
Guy de Montfort, Count of Nola was the son of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester and Eleanor of England.He participated in the Battle of Evesham against the royalist forces of his uncle, King Henry III of England, and his cousin, Prince Edward...
and Simon de Montfort (the younger) were seeking their fortunes in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. A tragic turn of events lead to the bloody 1271 confrontation between Guy and Simon and their cousin Henry of Almain
Henry of Almain
Henry of Almain , so called because of his father's German connections as King of the Romans , was the son of Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall and Isabel Marshal.As a nephew of both Henry III and Simon de Montfort, he wavered between the two at the beginning of the Barons' War, but...
(also Edward's cousin, by virtue of his father, Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
being elder brother to both Eleanor of England and Henry of Almain's father, Richard, Earl of Cornwall).
Henry, whom the de Montfort sons considered a traitor to their father's ideals, was attacked during mass at Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
, and murdered on the altar steps, resulting in the excommunication of both de Montfort sons. While Amaury was not in Viterbo, and was not involved in the murder, Edward swore vengeance upon all of Simon de Montfort's sons, Amaury included. Simon the younger died that year, reportedly of a tertian fever, while Guy
Guy
Guy or guys may refer to:* Guy * Guy, an effigy burned on bonfire night...
managed to appeal to the pope (with the aid of his father-in-law), resulting in his return to the church.
In 1275, after the death of his mother at Montargis Abbey, Amaury, by then a Papal Chaplain, accompanied his younger sister Eleanor de Montfort
Eleanor de Montfort
Eleanor de Montfort, Princess of Wales and Lady of Snowdon was a daughter of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester and Eleanor of England. She was also the first woman who can be shown to have used the title Princess of Wales....
on a winter sea voyage to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and her new husband, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf , sometimes rendered as Llywelyn II, was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England....
(the grandson of Llywelyn Fawr). Intercepted at sea by mercenaries in the employ of now King Edward I, both Amaury and Eleanor were taken captive.
Following two paragraphs taken mainly from Chronica, ascribed to William Rishanger, a monk of St. Albans, ed. H.T. Riley [1865], 87, 99.
While Eleanor's captivity was gentle and relatively short-lived (she was married to Prince Llywelyn at King Edward's expense in 1278), Amaury was held 'without rigour' in Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle is a village and civil parish in the English county of Dorset. It is the site of a ruined castle of the same name. The village and castle stand over a gap in the Purbeck Hills on the route between Wareham and Swanage. The village lies in the gap below the castle, and is some eight...
and later in Sherborne Castle
Sherborne Castle
Sherborne Castle is a 16th-century Tudor mansion southeast of Sherborne in Dorset, England. The park formed only a small part of the Digby estate.-Old castle:Sherborne Old Castle is the ruin of a 12th-century castle in the grounds of the mansion...
. After requests from the Pope, Prince Llywelyn and Archbishop John Peckham
John Peckham
John Peckham was Archbishop of Canterbury in the years 1279–1292. He was a native of Sussex who was educated at Lewes Priory and became a Franciscan friar about 1250. He studied at Paris under Bonaventure, where he later taught theology. From his teaching, he came into conflict with Thomas...
of Canterbury, Amaury was released after swearing at London not to return to England unless invited by the king.
Upon his release in mid April 1282, Amaury returned to France, never again to see his sister, who died in childbirth that very year, mere months before the death of her husband Llewylyn and the annexation of North Wales to the English crown. Amaury after some years renounced his clerical career and became a knight, apparently dying soon afterwards in Italy, possibly after 1301.