First English Parliament Meets at Westminster in 1265
Simon de Montfort wasn't playing politics—he was staging a revolution. Dragging 23 knights and burgesses into Westminster, he created something radical: a governing body where commoners could actually speak. And not just whisper—they could vote. This wasn't just a meeting; it was a thunderbolt aimed at King Henry III's absolute power. Nobles had challenged kings before, but never like this. Never with ordinary men in the room, representing towns and cities, demanding a voice in how they'd be governed.
January 20, 1265
761 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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