The Provisions of Oxford were constitutional reforms developed during the Oxford Parliament of 1258 to resolve a dispute between King Henry III of England and his barons. The reforms were designed to ensure the king adhered to the rule of law and governed according to the advice of his barons. A council of fifteen barons was chosen to advise and control the king and supervise his ministers. Parliament was to meet regularly three times a year. Like the earlier Magna Carta, the Provisions of Oxford demonstrated the ability of the barons to press their concerns in opposition to the monarchy. The king ultimately refused to abide by the reforms, sparking the Second Barons' War. The king defeated his opponents, and royal authority was restored. Background When in the spring of 1258 Henry III sought financial aid from Parliament, he was confronted by a group of barons who insisted on a new commission of reform, in the shape of a committee of twenty-four members, twelve selected by the Crown, twelve by the barons. The king's nominees to the committee were: Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury Fulk Basset, Bishop of London Aymer of Valence, Bishop elect of Winchester and the king's half-brother the abbot of Westminster Henry of Almain, the king's nephew John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey John du Plessis, 7th Earl of Warwick William of Valence, the king's half-brother Guy of Lusignan, the king's half-brother three clerks of the royal household. Five of the king's men were foreigners. Among the twelve chosen by the magnates, only one was a foreigner—Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester. The only clergymen chosen by the magnates was Waltere Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester. The Twenty-four presented their reform programme at the Oxford Parliament held in June 1258. Reforms The provisions fit into three categories: (1) appointment and control of principal ministers, (2) the king's council, and (3) parliament. Concerning ministers, the office of justiciar was revived. In the past, the justiciar had been the king's chief minister and viceroy whenever he was in Normandy. After the loss of the Angevin Empire during the reign of King John, however, the office had fallen into disuse. The new justiciar would be an ex officio member of the king's council and have authority over the judiciary, including the right to hear appeals from all other courts, whether royal or baronial. He was to hold office for one