King John and the Magna Carta

King John of England was compelled to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, which declared that the monarch was not above the law and was responsible for defending the rights of the people. The Magna Carta is currently regarded as one of the most significant documents in the development of democracy.

Background

When Richard the Lionheart, his brother, passed away without having children, John became king in 1199. John was quite harsh and had a horrible temper. The English barons disliked him.

While he was king, John had a lot of problems as well. He was at war with France all the time. He levied high taxes on the English Barons to fund this war. He enraged the Pope as well, and the church excommunicated him.

The Barons Uprising

The northern English barons had had enough of paying John’s hefty taxes by 1215. They chose to rebel. They marched into London under the banner of the “army of God” under the leadership of Baron Robert Fitzwalter. John agreed to engage in negotiations with them after seizing London.

Signing the Magna Carta

On June 15, 1215, King John met the barons in Runnymede, a neutral location immediately west of London. Here, the barons compelled King John to ratify the Magna Carta, a charter that guaranteed certain rights to them. King John pledged by signing the agreement to carry out his responsibilities as King of England, maintaining the law and governing fairly. The barons consented to withdraw and hand over control of London in exchange.

Civil War

It appears that neither party intended to abide by the agreement. Soon after the agreement was signed, King John tried to have it annulled. The text was even deemed “illegal and unjust” by the Pope at his request. At the same time, the barons refused to give up control over London.

England soon found itself in the midst of a civil war. French soldiers helped the barons, who were commanded by Robert Fitzwalter. The First Barons’ War, as it is known, lasted a year during which the barons battled King John. However, the battle was quickly over when King John passed away in 1216.

Information about the Magna Carta

Magna Carta was a lengthy legal text. The exact number of clauses in the paper was 63, and they all outlined different laws that the barons wanted the King to implement. These rights included some of the following:

• Protection of religious freedom
• Quick access to justice
• No further taxes without the Barons’ approval
• A cap on feudal payments
• Protection from unjustified incarceration
• 25 barons would form a council to ensure King John followed the law.

Legacy

The concepts outlined in the Magna Carta remained enduring tenets of liberty for the English even though King John did not adhere to the agreement. The freedom of the English Church, the “ancient liberties” of the City of London, and the right to due process are three of the clauses that are still enforceable under English law.

The constitutions and development of other nations were also impacted by the principles of the Magna Carta. The liberties given in the constitution served as justification for the American colonists’ rebellion and establishment of their own nation. The Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution both contain many of these rights.

Facts about the Magna Carta that are interesting

Latin for “Great Charter” is “Magna Carta.” The text of the actual document was initially written in Latin.

King John is frequently portrayed as the bad guy in the Robin Hood tale.

The Magna Carta established a council of 25 barons to supervise the king, which later evolved into the English Parliament.

The agreement between the two parties was negotiated with assistance from Archbishop Stephen Langton. He is also credited with creating the contemporary chaptering system still in use today.

The Charter of Liberties, which King Henry I signed in 1100, had a significant influence on the Magna Carta.