1215

• The content of the Magna Carta was drafted by Archbishop Stephen Langton and the most powerful Barons of England. King John signed the document which was originally called the 'Articles of the Barons' on June 10, 1215. The barons renewed the Oath of Fealty to King John on June 15, 1215. The royal chancery produced a formal royal grant, based on the agreements reached at Runnymede, which became known as Magna Carta. Copies of the Magna Carta were distributed to bishops, sheriffs and other important people throughout England.
• Key Dates relating to the event: The Magna Carta was signed by King John on June 15, 1215
• Other names for Magna Carta: It is also referred to as the Magna Charter or the Great Charter
• Where was the Magna Carta signed? The Magna Carta was signed by King John in a meadow at Runnymede in Egham, Surrey, South England ( between Windsor and Staines)
• Key People relating to the event: King John of England, Archbishop Stephen Langton and the Barons
• In 1205 King John quarrelled with the Pope Innocent III about who should be archbishop of Canterbury. The Pope wanted a man named Stephen Langton to be archbishop, but King John swore he should never come to England.
• In 1209 The pope retaliated, excommunicated King John and banned all church services in all parish churches
• King John gave in, and Pope Innocent made the king and people pay him money whenever he demanded it.
• Taxes levied by King John were extortionate. His reprisals against defaulters were ruthless and his idea justice was considered avaricious
• In 1212 King John imposes taxes on the Barons in his attempts to regain the lost lands of Aquitaine, Poitou and Anjou
• King John quarrels with the Barons over his methods of ruling England
• The Barons and Stephen Langton decided to curb the King and make him govern by the old English laws that had prevailed before the Normans came. The demands of the Barons were documented in the 'Articles of the Barons' in January 1215
• The Barons took up arms against King John
• The Barons captured London in May 1215
• In June the Barons, in full armor, took King John by surprise at Windsor and he agreed to a meeting at Runnymede
• King John signed and sealed the document on June 10, 1215
• The barons renewed the Oath of Fealty to King John on June 15, 1215
• The royal chancery produced a formal royal grant, based on the agreements reached at Runnymede, which became known as Magna Carta
• Copies of the Magna Carta were distributed to bishops, sheriffs and other important people throughout England
• King John had no intention of abiding by the Magna Carta. His duplicity leads to the Barons War between 1215 - 1217. The rebel barons support the son of the king of France, Prince Louis in preference to King John. In 1216 Prince Louis invades England and marches to London where he receives support and is was proclaimed and accepted as King of England (although not actually crowned). King John dies in October. The Barons turn on Prince Louis and supports the nine year old son of King John who then became King Henry III of England.
• Why the Magna Carta was famous and important to the history of England? The charter is considered to be the beginning of constitutional government in England. The Magna Carta demonstrated that the power of the king could be limited by a written grant.

40. Nulli vendemus, nulli negabimus aut differemus rectum aut justiciam.

(To no one will we sell, to no one will we refuse or delay right or justice.)

The Magna Carta was important for several reasons:

• It outlined basic rights for all people
• It was the original model of modern British democratic constitution, and thus became the model for other documents such as the US Constitution
• It took the exclusive power over the state away from the Monarch and spread power among others as well - first the nobles, then the common people

The Magna Carta is Latin for "Great Charter". It set down rights which became part of English law and which are now the foundation of the constitution of all countries which speak English. It did not grant any new rights, but it did protect existing rights in writing. These rights included the basic right of anyone convicted of a crime to a jury trial; protection of private property; reasonable limits on taxes and a degree of guaranteed religious freedom. The Magna Carta was a significant influence on the long historical process that has resulted in the rule of constitutional law today.

The Magna Carta came about because King John (who only became king in 1199 when his brother King Richard I died) had a reputation for being tyrannical. His reign was marred by continuous war losses, beginning with the loss of Normandy to Philippe Auguste of France and ending with England torn by civil war. King John risked being forced out of power because of his mismanagement. By 1215, England's nobility was fed up with paying extra taxation. Members of this nobility rebelled and captured London. In June, the King met these barons at Runnymede on the River Thames to try and reach a peaceful settlement. The King reluctantly agreed to their demands by signing the Magna Carta on 15 June 1215. It was intended to limit the powers of the monarch and proclaimed certain liberties for "freemen".