P+P chapter 1 Magna Carta Flashcards
Who was king from 1167-1216?
King John
What was the feudal system?
The king was at the top and gave barons land in return for money and men o fight in wars. Barons would give land to knights if they promised to fight if needed. The peasants were at the bottom.
Why was King John excommunicated from the Church?
John disagreed with the Pope over Stephen Langton’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury. The Pope then excommunicated England. Banning church services including: marriages and funerals.
What were some of the Baron’s grievances with King John?
- he was excommunicated from the church
- he charged high scutage
- he lost money and land in France whilst fighting pointless wars, his nicknames were: lackland and soft sword
Why was King John viewed as a good king?
- strengthened British navy
- won wars in Scotland and Wales
- ensured people of England could have a fair trial with a judge and jury
Who led the army of barons in 1215?
Robert Fitzwalter and they occupied London
When and where did John meet the Barons?
15 June 1215 at Runneymede
How many clauses did the Magna Carta contain?
63
What were 6 main clauses of the Magna Carta?
- baron’s heir should inherit his lands, paying the king £100
- no scutage imposed on barons
- no freeman arrested or imprisoned without a trial
- English church free to make its own appointments
- merchants to have safety and free from evil tolls
- group of 25 barons to monitor the king to ensure he follows the Magna Carta (clause 61)
Was Magna Carta a success or a failure in the short term?
Failure because John broke the Magna Carta immediately and got the Pope to declare it invalid. This lead to the Baron’s war
Was Magna Carta a success or a failure in the long term?
Success as it marked the first step towards democracy. Every monarch since has signed an updated version of the Magna Carta
What happened at the Siege of Rochester?
- barons occupied Rochester case which lay between Dover and London
- October 1215, John arrived with 5 siege engines: catapults and trebuchets. Not strong enough to break the 3.6 metre wide stone walls
- 25 November, sent order to Canterbury for pickaxes and 40 fat pigs
- John’s men dug a tunnel under the castle’s foundations, held up by wooden props
- pigs’ fat was used to cover the sicks and set them on fire. Wooden props holding up the castle burnt down and the wall collapsed
- John stormed the castle and the siege was over by 30 November
What happened when French Prince Louis arrived?
May 1216, French Prince Louis arrived with troops. John fled southwest. Louis supported the barons and took control of most of England. Louis was announced, but not crowned, king at St Paul’s Cathedral on 2 June 1216
What happened when King John died?
October 1216, John died. The barons wanted Henry, his son, to be king, not Louis. Henry was a child, so easy to control. Earl of Pembroke, his regent, called for Englishmen to defend the country against Louis. 28 October 1216, Henry III became king and signed the Magna Carta
