In 1216, Henry III ascended to the throne of England amidst most pressing circumstances. What were these?
Answer: Henry was only nine years old and commanded less than half of his Kingdom. Louis, the eldest son of the King of France, held London, while King Alexander of Scotland was invading the north. Henry’s coronation took place not at Westminster but in Gloucester, and there it was disturbed by news of a Welsh attack a mere 18 miles away. Despite these early setbacks, Henry would go on to rule for 56 years.
Source: The Struggle for Mastery by David Carpenter
