Davison History Department

CAUSES

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When John became King in 1199 he had a lot to live up to. His father (Henry II) was viewed as a successful King and his brother had been Richard the Lionheart. A Medieval King was expected to be a good soldier and gain support from his barons. He should also keep peace, deal with rebellions and ensure good relations with the church and Pope. Society was organised in the Feudal System. There was a Great Council where the barons could give their views and concerns, but the King didn’t have to listen. Medieval kings believed they had been chosen by God (the Divine Right)

John had a disagreement with the Pope (head of the Catholic Church, with huge power over European countries) when he refused to support the appointment of Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury (a powerful role, advising the king).  John was against Langton as he felt he was too loyal to the Pope. In retaliation the Pope banned church services including marriages and funerals in England; this frightened people as they feared they would go to hell unless they attended mass regularly. The barons were worried it could lead to an invasion from abroad.

Another cause of conflict was SCUTAGE – high taxes John charged his barons to pay for wars in France. The wars did not go well; the barons gave John nicknames like “soft-sword” and “lack-land” and were angry about losing their lands in France, which lost them money. Joohn continued to charge high taxes.

John also managed to lose the Crown Jewels in an area of marshland called the wash, which made people question his competency.

 

DEVELOPMENT

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The barons put an army together led by Robert Fitzwater and sent it to occupy London. John had no choice but to negotiate with the barons as he needed them to raise his own army.

They met at Runnymede near Windsor on 19th June 1215. The Magna Carta (Great Charter) contained 63 clauses the barons wanted John to keep.

 

Main clauses of Magna Carta

 

Clause 1 “That the English Church shall be free, and shall have its rights undiminished, and its liberties unimpaired”

Clause 12 “No scutage or aid may be levied in our kingdom without general consent.

Clause 35 “There shall be standard measures of wine, ale and corn throughout the kingdom

Clause 39 “No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights and possessions, or outlawed or exiled…..except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land”

Clause 40 “To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice”

Clause 52 “To any man whom we have deprived or dispossessed of lands, castles, liberties, or rights, without the lawful judgement of his equals, we will at once restore these”

Clause 61 “The barons shall elect twenty-five of their number to keep, and cause to be observed with all their might, the peace and liberties granted and confirmed to them by this charter”

 

John had no intention of sticking to his promises. He only agreed so that potential civil war would end.

 

CONSEQUENCES

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King John went back on his word, using the Magna Carta as a delaying tactic giving him time to build up an army. In August 1215 the Pope stated that the Magna Carta was invalid. The barons had control of London and support from the French. Civil War was declared.

King John was in Dover. Rochester Castle (between London and Dover) was vital. The barons occupied Rochester Castle, but in October 1215 John’s army arrived with 5 siege engines (catapults and trebuchets) and bombarded the castle. The walls held, so John decided to wait and starve the barons out. By end of November John’s men had dug a tunnel under the castle foundations. Pig fat was used to cover sticks packed into the tunnel. These were set alight and the wooden props supporting the castle wall were destroyed. John and his army stormed the castle and took back control. John seemed to have control of most of England and Wales again.

But in May 1216, Price Louis arrived from France with his army to support the barons in return for the throne of England. John fled southwest. Louis and the barons took control of most of England by capturing important towns and castles. John took land from rebel barons and gave it to loyal ones to try and gain support, but the rebels would not give up. On 2nd June 1216 Louis was announced (not crowned) King at St Paul’s cathedral. Even the Scottish King Alexander II swore allegiance to Louis.

In October 1216 John died and the barons decided they did not need Louis now and crowned John’s 9 year old son King Henry III. The barons re-issued Magna Carta and Henry III agreed to the clauses.

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SIGNIFICANCE

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In the short term it only affected freemen and barons at the time, not the majority of peasants (villeins). The barons were looking after their own interests. It limited the power of the monarch for the first time. However the king could ignore it if he wished.

In the longer term it has gained more significance as an important symbolic step towards democracy and an inspiration for things like the American Declaration of Independence. It applied to more people as the years passed and the feudal system ended. It introduced the important idea that even kings should have to obey some laws and rules. Some historians see it as a basis for the rule of law, freedom and human rights in Britain and across the world.

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MAIN FACTORS

Economy, War, Religion, Ideas