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When they made important decisions, kings often asked their barons for advice . When kings didnt ask for advice, the barons got angry. This happened to King John in 1215 - the barons made him agree to the Magna Carta.

The Battle of Lewes

Johns son, Henry III, also had problems with the barons. He made important decisions but he did not ask the barons for advice. Simon de Montfort was the leader of the barons. In 1259, Henry said he would ask the barons for their advice, but then he started to ignore the barons. The barons fought Henry. They beat the king's army at Lewes in 1264.

Simon de Montforts Parliament

Simon de Montfort was in control of England. He asked every part of England to send two people to London. They met at Westminster Abbey. This was the first parliament.
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King Edward I
Henrys son, Edward I, had a parliament. He wanted money to fight wars in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Parliament had to agree to new taxes. Edward asked people from all over England to come to parliament. In 1297, Edward said that he would not make new taxes without the agreement of parliament. People in parliament met in five different groups: bishops barons clergy knights people from the towns In the fourteenth century, these five groups became two groups: the first three groups were called the Lords and the last two groups were called the Commons. By the fourteenth century, kings could not rule England without parliament. Richard II tried to run England without parliament, so the barons fought the king. In 1399, the barons put Richard in the Tower of London and he died there. By 1500, parliament was very important.

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