Part 1 : Magna Carta and the First Barons' War Flashcards
what was medieval society built on?
- the feudal system
the feudal system
- king at the top of this system
- king gave land to the barons
- barons gave the king money and men to fight in wars
- knights were given land if they promised to fight when needed
what was a medieval king meant to do?
- defend the people by leading the army well
- keep the country peaceful
- successfully deal with any rebellions
- maintain good relations with the Church and the Pope
christianity
- an important part of medieval life as it was believed that the king was appointed by God
- church was very powerful - led by the pope in rome by controlled in england by bishops and other members of the clergy
what did the church own?
- large amounts of land and set rules on everything from marriage to inheritance
why is king john not remembered as a good medieval king?
- he fell out with the pope and the barons
how did king john and the pope differ on the archbishop of canterbury?
- the pope wanted stephen langton as archbishop, however john wanted someone who would listen to him instead
- the pope retaliated by cancelling all church services, including marriages and funerals
- made barons very unhappy - they thought they would go to hell
john and battle
- king john was not very good in battle and he lost vast areas of territory in France that England once ruled over
- earnt the nicknames ‘lackland’ and ‘softsword’
- as a result, john struggled to raise enough money to govern and defend the country
why were the barons unhappy?
- they were worried about invasions from foreign countries because of the fall out with the pope and john did not maintain good relations with the pope
- john’s poor battle record meant he lost land in France
- they had to pay scutage - a high tax on those barons who did not fight for john when he asked
- john repeatedly ignored the demands of the great council which meant that the barons felt their views weren’t respected
what action did the barons take?
- they were fed up with john so they raised an army against him and occupied london
- john realised he would need to listen to the barons so met with them on 15th june 1215 to negotiate the way in which the country should be governed
when did king john meet with the barons to negotiate the way in which the country should be governed?
- 15th june 1215
where did king john and the barons meet on the 15th of june 1215?
- runnymede
what happened in runnymede?
- john signed the magna carta
what were the events to the lead up to the first barons’ war?
- king john went back on his word, saying he had been forced to sign the magna carta
- the pope agreed, stating that the magna carta was invalid
- war started in england between the barons and the king ; the barons had the support of the french who sent troops and money to help the barons
- the seige of rochester in late 1215 gave john the upper hand after he and his men were able to storm rochester castle
when was the seige of rochester and what did it mean?
- october 1215
- gave john the upper hand after he and his men were able to storm rochester castle
may 1216 - the first barons’ war
- the barons promise the french prince louis the english throne, and he arrives on the coast
- price louis takes control of most of england and he has the support of the scottish king
2 june 1216 - the first barons’ war
- prince louis announced, but not crowned, king of england
october 1216 - the first barons war
- king john dies
28 october 1216 - the first barons war
- john’s young son henry becomes king henry III
- magna carta reissued and henry III agrees to the conditions
the magna carta: ‘a baron’s heir..
..shall inherit his lands on payment of £100 to the king’
the magna carta: ‘no scutage shall be imposed on the barons except…
…with the common counsel of the realm’
the magna carta: ‘no freemen shall be arrested or…
..imprisoned without a proper trial and according to the law of the land’
the magna carta: ‘the english church shall…
…be free to make its own appointments’
the magna carta: ‘a group of 25 barons will be created to monitor…
…the king and ensure he commits to magna carta’
