Editing Henry III of England (section)

=== Coronation ===
Henry was staying safely at [[Corfe Castle]] in Dorset with his mother when King John died.<ref>{{Harvnb|Davis|2013|p=30}}</ref> On his deathbed, John appointed a council of thirteen executors to help Henry reclaim the kingdom and requested that his son be placed into the guardianship of [[William Marshal]], one of the most famous knights in England.<ref>{{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|pp=14–15}}</ref> The loyalist leaders decided to crown Henry immediately to reinforce his claim to the throne.<ref name=Carpenter1990P13>{{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|p=13}}</ref>{{Efn|Henry's speedy coronation was intended to draw a clear distinction between the young king and his rival Louis, who had only been elected by the barons and was never crowned.<ref name=Carpenter1990P13/>}} William knighted the boy, and Cardinal [[Guala Bicchieri]], the [[papal legate]] to England, then oversaw his coronation at [[Gloucester Cathedral]] on 28 October 1216.<ref name="oxforddnb.com">{{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|p=13}}; {{Harvnb|McGlynn|2013|p=189}}; {{Harvnb|Ridgeway|2004}}</ref> 

In the absence of Archbishops [[Stephen Langton]] of [[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]] and [[Walter de Gray]] of [[Archbishop of York|York]], Henry was anointed by Bishops [[Sylvester of Worcester]] and [[Simon of Apulia|Simon of Exeter]], and crowned by [[Peter des Roches]].<ref name="oxforddnb.com"/> The royal crown had been either lost or sold during the civil war or possibly lost in [[The Wash#King John and his jewels|The Wash]], so instead the ceremony used a simple gold [[Corolla (chaplet)|corolla]] belonging to Queen Isabella.<ref>{{Harvnb|Davis|2013|p=31}}; {{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|p=188}}</ref> Henry later underwent a second coronation at [[Westminster Abbey]] on 17 May 1220.<ref name="Henry III - Westminster Abbey">{{Cite web |title=Henry III |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511213130/http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/royals/coronations/henry-iii |website=Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey |access-date=16 February 2020 |url=http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/royals/coronations/henry-iii |archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

The young king inherited a difficult situation, with over half of England occupied by the rebels and most of his father's continental possessions still in French hands.<ref>{{Harvnb|Weiler|2012|p=1}}; {{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|p=1}}</ref> He had substantial support from Cardinal Guala, who intended to win the civil war for Henry and punish the rebels.<ref>{{Harvnb|Mayr-Harting|2011|pp=259–260}}</ref> Guala set about strengthening the ties between England and the Papacy, starting with the coronation itself, where Henry gave [[Homage (feudal)|homage]] to the Papacy, recognising [[Pope Honorius III]] as his feudal lord.<ref>{{Harvnb|Mayr-Harting|2011|p=260}}; {{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|p=13}}</ref> Honorius declared that Henry was his [[vassal]] and [[Ward (law)|ward]], and that the legate had complete authority to protect Henry and his kingdom.<ref name=Carpenter1990P13/> As an additional measure, Henry took the cross, declaring himself a [[Crusades|crusader]] and so entitled to special protection from Rome.<ref name=Carpenter1990P13/>

Two senior nobles stood out as candidates to head Henry's regency government.<ref>{{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|p=16}}</ref> The first was William Marshal, who, although elderly, was renowned for his personal loyalty and could help support the war with his own men and material.<ref>{{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|pp=15–16}}</ref> The second was [[Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester]], one of the most powerful loyalist barons. William diplomatically waited until both Guala and Ranulf had requested him to take up the post before assuming power.<ref>{{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|pp=16–17}}</ref>{{Efn|Initially William Marshal termed himself the King's [[justiciar]]. When [[Hubert de Burgh]], the existing justiciar, complained, William altered his title to the ''rector nostrer et rector nostri'', "our ruler and the ruler of our kingdom".<ref>{{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|pp=21–22}}</ref>}} William then appointed des Roches to be Henry's guardian, freeing himself up to lead the military effort.<ref>{{Harvnb|Carpenter|1990|p=17}}</ref>