Henry de Montfort (1238 - 1265) 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. Henry's mother was Eleanor Plantagenet (daughter of King John), whose marriage to Simon further increased the foreign influence begun by the king, which was to result in great hostility by those very barons who later revolted against the king.

Henry's father, Simon de Montfort, had traveled from his home in France to England in 1229 to reclaim the estate of his father, Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester. The estate had been lost because the elder Simon de Montfort had fought in France against England, and had been banished from England by King John in 1207. Though he became his brother-in-law, the younger Simon de Montfort led a revolt against Henry III in a conflict to become known as the Second Barons' War. Henry de Montfort took part in this struggle as well.

When the siege of Gloucester began in 1263, Henry de Montfort, his borther Simon, and Humphrey de Bohun, along with the King and the Prince Edward (later Edward I) as prisoners, spent two weeks fortifying the town and castle.

Henry de Montfort died with his father and brother at Battle of Evesham, having been recalled to England from France to lead the rebellious knights of the baronial army during the Barons War (1263-1264).

"The final act was played out in a monstrous summer storm, (in) 'such a downpour of rain, such thunder and lightening, ...the darkness was so profound, that though it was dinner-time those who sat down to eat could scarcely see the food before them'. The first of the noble's to fall in battle was Henry de Montfort, 'first born son and heir, in full view of his father, perished, split by a sword.'"

Aftermath for Henry's family:

"‘Thus the whole weight of the battle fell upon the earl of Leicester, who was an old and shrewd warrior. He stood the shock like a strong tower; but, surrounded by few followers, and overcome by numbers, he fell, and thus terminated an hereditary prowess, rendered famous by many glorious deeds'".

Family

Henry had a sister, Eleanor de Montfort, and four known brothers. His most prominent brother, another Simon de Montfort (1240-1271), was two years his junior. The others were Guy de Montfort, Richard de Montfort (died 1266), and Pierre, who died at the Battle of Evesham with Henry.

The Noble family of Henry De Montfort was over many years related to Kings of Jerusalem, France, England, Scotland, and to rulers of Wales and the Orsini family of Rome. The family motto was "Quod Deus Vole Volo" (What God wishes, I wish).