Efforts to find the location of the Battle of Lewes in 1264 are exciting (The Argus, May 15) but, with cavalry involved, the fighting will have raged over quite a large area.
In particular, the battle is famous for Prince Edward’s cavalry pursuit of London foot soldiers when he revenged the insults and missiles recently hurled at his mother from London Bridge.
The real importance of the battle, however, is Simon de Montfort’s victory which led to the most representative Parliament ever called up to that time, including many knights and townsmen.
Although Simon was killed the following year and his cause seemed lost, the ideas he had fostered and the institution of Parliament survived and were found to be useful by our rulers.
For the democracy we have today, imperfect though it is, Lewes is the most important battle ever fought on English soil, even if its precise location remains elusive.
James Simister, Bates Road, Brighton
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