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the Count of Provence. Eleanor’s sister was married to Louis IX, which made the English and French kings brothers-in-law. Henry was now connected by marriage to the leading figures in European affairs. In 1236 he and Louis agreed a four-year truce. Moreover, Eleanor was connected on her mother’s side to the influential counts of Savoy, whose lands were strategically placed to control the Alpine passes into Italy. The wedding took place in January 1236, and Henry made sure that the lavish ceremonial would set new standards of royal magnificence.
    The marriage was a success. Despite the difference in their ages, Henry and Eleanor not only developed a great affection for each other, but the young queen exercised considerable influence. She was intelligent and soon developed a keen sense of political realities. She brought with her several of her Savoyard relatives, which proved to be both an advantageand a disadvantage to Henry. The establishment of more foreigners at court led, in time, to a build-up of resentment, but some of Eleanor’s relatives were men of real ability who gave good advice.
    Foremost among them was the Bishop of Valence, William of Savoy, and when Henry reorganized his council he put William in charge. The new body carried out important economic and administrative reforms that placed the royal finances on a more secure footing. It also instituted a survey of English law, which culminated in the Statute of Merton (1236). The council meeting in Merton Abbey was augmented by the leading judges, among whom was the brilliant legist William Ralegh. The document that emerged sought to apply in detail the general principles enunciated in Magna Carta: it defined the rights of vulnerable members of society such as widows and minors; it protected from exploitation children who had inherited property on the death of their parents; it tidied up the law relating to the enclosure of common land by powerful magnates; and it brought Irish law into line with English law.
    In January 1238 Henry’s sister, Eleanor, was married in clandestine circumstances. She had previously been the wife of William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke (son of the regent), and on his death in 1231 she had taken a vow of permanent chastity. But she had been only 16 at the time, and her resolve weakened when she met a young Frenchman who had arrived in England to claim his inheritance as Earl of Leicester. This was Simon de Montfort, a vigorous young knight who had proved himself in military service to the French king. Thecouple formed a liaison (Henry would later claim that Eleanor had been seduced) and, to avoid scandal, Henry had them secretly married. This caused a furore. The king’s brother, Richard of Cornwall, felt personally affronted, the leading barons insisted that they should have been consulted, and the Archbishop of Canterbury complained that Eleanor had broken her sacred vow. Richard and his supporters flew to arms, and Henry retreated to the Tower of London. Thanks to the intervention of William of Savoy peace was achieved by a payment of 16,000 marks to Richard to enable him to go on crusade. The next year Simon was invested with the Earldom of Leicester. He and Eleanor went to live in France but were reconciled to the king in 1240, shortly before Simon went on crusade.
    In June 1239 Henry and his subjects were able to rejoice in the birth of an heir – the baby was named Edward, in honour of Henry’s favourite saint – but at the end of the year the news was brought to Henry that William of Savoy had died in Italy, and the king was distraught. Matthew Paris recorded that he had torn off his clothes and thrown them into the fire. Despite this, 1239 and the following few years were the happiest of the king’s reign. In 1240 his wife gave birth to a daughter, and Henry engaged in a successful campaign against Gruffydd-ap-Llewelyn of Wales. Meanwhile, more and more of the queen’s Savoyard relatives were arriving in England and