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Signing of the Magna Carta
On 15 June 1215, England's King John was forced to sign Magna Carta with rebel barons at Runnymede, legally limiting royal power and establishing pri…
Timeline
- 1215Runnymede · SurreyAfter the defeat at Bouvines, King John imposed heavier taxes and arbitrary arrests, provoking armed rebellion among northern barons. The rebels occupied London, forcing John to negotiate with baronial representatives at Runnymede on the Thames, where both sides debated the boundaries of royal power.
- 1215Runnymede · SurreyAt Runnymede, King John promised in Magna Carta: no extra taxation without the consent of the great council, no unlawful imprisonment of freemen, protection of church rights and impartial justice, and more. King and baronial representatives sealed the document, and copies were quickly distributed to the counties.
- 1215Winchester · HampshireKing John appealed to Pope Innocent III, claiming Magna Carta had been signed under duress. On 24 August the pope issued a bull annulling Magna Carta and excommunicated John, and the situation quickly slid toward civil war.
Sources
- Magna Carta https://www.britannica.com/topic/Magna-Carta
- Magna Carta: A Commentary on the Great Charter of King John — William Sharp McKechnie (1914)