Magna Carta

1215-2015

Magna Carta• What is Magna Carta?• Why is this year important?

England before Magna Carta

The Feudal System• Feudalism was a social, political,

and religious structure, based on the exchange of land for military services and or cash rent.

• Lords had special judicial and hunting privileges. They collected taxes and rents from the peasants and serfs for using their land for living and agriculture.

• Lords had specific duties towards the king. They had to offer taxes and troops whenever required.

Henry & Eleanor The Power Couple

• Henry II marries Eleanor of Aquitaine and inherits part of France in the deal.

• They have five sons, including Richard I (also known as The Lionheart) and John (famous for signing Magna Carta)

Land controlled by the King

in 1152

Richard I (The Lionheart)• 1189: Henry II dies and Richard I becomes King of England, but he is

based in Aquitaine. • In the same year, he goes to fight in the Holy Land.• 1192: On his way back to England, he is captured and held hostage by

the Emperor of Germany.• 1194: England pays the 100,000 marks ransom for the King’s return.• 1195: Richard returns to England for a short time but goes to fight in

France, never to return.

King John• 1199: John becomes King after his

brother’s death.

• 1204: After years of war with France, England loses most of its possessions.

• 1209: The Pope excommunicates John for taking money from the church.

• 1214 The English are defeated by the French at the Battle of Bouvines

• The English Barons rebel against the King, and march on London to demand rights, which they lay down in Magna Carta

The Signing of an Agreement

• On the 19 June 1215 at Runnymede King John signed the Magna Carta.

• It was the first formal document stating that a King had to follow the laws of the land and it guaranteed the rights of individuals against the wishes of the King. This meant people couldn't be arrested, imprisoned of have their possessions taken away except by the judgement of his equals and/or the law of the land.

• The Magna Carta established the principle that the people of England, at this stage represented by the Barons, could limit the power of a King, if he was doing things that were not good for the country

Fun Facts• Before the Magna Carta, widows and

daughters of Barons could be sold by the King in marriage in order to make money.

• Of the 63 clauses of the Magna Carta only 3 are still in use. The three include a defence of the rights of the English church, the liberties and customs of London and the right to a fair trial and only being arrested for a just cause.

• The Magna Carta was authenticated by a royal seal rather than a signature and there is no evidence that King John could write at all.

So why is it so important?

Magna Carta’s Influence

And finally…

Thank you for listening.

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