Shakespeare's King John and Magna Carta

Introduction: Exploring

Democracy

through the Magna Charta

and Shakespeare’s King

John

1

Exploring Democracy through Magna Carta and Shakespeare’s King John

Title and Subtitles: Exploring Democracy through the Magna Charta and

Shakespeare’s King John; (1) First Dramatic Work of History by William Shakespeare

(1564-1616), and (2) King John (1167-1216)

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

First Dramatic Work of History by:

William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

King John

(1167-1216)

Exploring Democracy through Magna Charta and Shakespeare’s King John

Exploring Democracy through

Magna Charta and

Shakespeare’s King John

Priority Concept that each user should be able to do upon the completion of this presentation

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

King John

(1167-1216)

This presentation should enable you to describe the events that Shakespeare

considered in respect to King John and the importance of Magna Charta


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare: Holy Wars and King John

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare considers the Fall of the Roman Empire (476) in respect to the Crusades and King John

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare considers the Battle of Hastings—the Norman Invasion (1066) in respect

to King John

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare Considers the Crusades (1095-1291) in respect to King

John

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare considers the role of Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) in

respect to her youngest son King John

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine

(1122-1204)


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare considers King John’s entire life (1167-1216)

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine

(1122-1204)


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare considers Eleanor as the supporter of the Troubadours who was unjustly

imprisoned for 16 years by her first husband

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine

(1122-1204)

Eleanor:

Supporter

of

Troubadours;

imprisoned

for 16 years

by her first

husband


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare considers King John’s dispute of the rights of Pope

Innocent III (1205)

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine

(1122-1204)

Eleanor:

Supporter

of

Troubadours;

imprisoned

for 16 years

by her first

husband:

Disputed the

rights of

Pope

Innocent III

(1205)


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare considers the words of King John to the Barons and

Stephen Langton, and the causes for which King John is

excommunicated by the Pope

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine

(1122-1204) Disputed the

rights of

Pope

Innocent III

(1205)

King John is

excommunicated

by the Pope

(1209)


Magna Charta and


Eleanor:

Supporter

of

Troubadours;

imprisoned

for 16 years

by her first

husband:

Shakespeare considers the reactions of King John and the cause

for which he levies taxes on the Catholic Barons (1212)

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine


rights of

Pope

Innocent III

(1205)

King John is

excommunicated

by the Pope

(1209)

King John

levies taxes

on the

Catholic

Barons

(1212)


Magna Charta and


Eleanor:

Supporter

of

Troubadours;

imprisoned

for 16 years

by her first

husband:

Shakespeare considers the ambush in Windsor of King John by the

Barons in 1215

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine


rights of

Pope

Innocent III

(1205)

King John is

excommunicated

by the Pope

(1209)

King John

levies taxes

on the

Catholic

Barons

(1212)

King John is

ambushed at

Windsor by the

Barons (1215)


Magna Charta and


Eleanor:

Supporter

of

Troubadours;

imprisoned

for 16 years

by her first

husband:

Shakespeare considers Runnymede where the Oath of Fealty is

renewed by the Barons to the King in 1215, four days after King

John signed the Magna Charta

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine


rights of

Pope

Innocent III

(1205)

King John is

excommunicated

by the Pope

(1209)

King John

levies taxes

on the

Catholic

Barons

(1212)

King John is

ambushed at

Windsor by the

Barons (1215)

At Runnymede,

the Oath of Fealty

is renewed by the

Barons to the King

(1215)


Magna Charta and


Eleanor:

Supporter

of

Troubadours;

imprisoned

for 16 years

by her first

husband:

Shakespeare considers the causes for and affects of the Council of

Trent and the Inquisition Pope Gregory IX began to conduct in 1233

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine


rights of

Pope

Innocent III

(1205)

King John is

excommunicated

by the Pope

(1209)

King John

levies taxes

on the

Catholic

Barons

(1212)

King John is

ambushed at

Windsor by the

Barons (1215)

At Runnymede, the

Oath of Fealty is

renewed by the

Barons to the King

(1215)

Council of

Trent;

Inquisition

(1233-

1700s)


Magna Charta and


Eleanor:

Supporter

of

Troubadours;

imprisoned

for 16 years

by her first

husband:

Shakespeare also considers the Counter-Reformation which began

in the early 16th Century through the discretion of Protestant leaders

Crusades

Crusades

Crusades

King John

(1167-1216)

Holy Wars

Fall of the

Roman

Empire (476)

Battle of

Hastings—

Norman

Invasion

(1066)

Crusades

(1095-1291)

Youngest Son

of Eleanor of

Aquitaine


rights of

Pope

Innocent III

(1205)

King John is

excommunicated

by the Pope

(1209)

King John

levies taxes

on the

Catholic

Barons

(1212)

King John is

ambushed at

Windsor by the

Barons (1215)

At Runnymede, the

Oath of Fealty is

renewed by the

Barons to the King

(1215)

Council of

Trent;

Inquisition

(1233-

1700s)

Counter-

Reformation

(1500s+)


William Shakespeare

(1564-1616) Exploring Democracy through

Magna Charta and


Eleanor:

Supporter

of

Troubadours;

imprisoned

for 16 years

by her first

husband:

Covering the last years of King John’s life, Shakespeare is aware of the

needs that the Magna Charta does address

18

♦ Foreign war has persisted against the will of the nation’s people;

♦ Respected individuals such as King John’s Mother have been

imprisoned unjustly and without due process;

♦ Fishing, language, and other civil rights of the people have

continued to be ignored.

Covering the last years of King John’s life,

Shakespeare is aware that:

19


Magna Charta and


Eleanor Pleas to Save Her Land for Her Own Children

Notice the large area of the powerful region of Aquitaine (circled to the right in yellow) that Eleanor (to the left) had inherited through her Father William X

The words of Eleanor for

Constance’s passion for war

20

What now, my son? Have I not ever said

How that ambitious Constance would not cease

Till she had kindled France and all the world

Upon the right and party of her [extremely young] son?

This might have been prevented and made whole

With very easy arguments of love,

Which now the manage of two kingdoms must

With fearful bloody issue arbitrate.

Eleanor (King John 1.1.32-38)


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare reminds the audience that Arthur’s fate is at the

determination of his mother Constance

21

Constance’s son Arthur (1187-1203)


Magna Charta and


King John’s Mother Eleanor asks her Grandson Arthur to come to her

(King John 2.1.159)

22

Eleanor: Come to thy Grandam, child (2.1.159)


Magna Charta and


Eleanor’s words

ever prevail in the

mind of King John

and his

author/playwright

Shakespeare as she

advocated for

peaceful resolutions

23

Eleanor’s Memories


Magna Charta and


Earl of Salisbury’s exquisite words (Act IV, Scene 2, lines 14-15)

24

Earl of Salisbury: With taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven

to garnish (4.2.14-15)


Magna Charta and


Emphasizing the prevalence of War during the Middle Ages

25

Both foreign and Holy War were all too common during the Middle Ages of King John


Magna Charta and


Middle Ages Portrait of King John

26

Middle Ages Portrait of King John that has Endured Hardship

throughout time


Magna Charta and


Shakespeare’s original theater was similar to an amphitheater

27

Shakespeare’s original theater was similar to an amphitheater


Magna Charta and


The Book of Kells is among the literary volumes known by Shakespeare

28

From the Book of Kells, this page is a feature of the Middle Ages known by both King John and

Shakespeare


Magna Charta and


Words of Constance against the Peace for which King John’s Mother

did advocate

29

War, war, no peace! Peace is to me a war.

O Limoges, O Austria, thou dost shame

That bloody spoil. Thou slave, thou wretch, thou

coward!

Thou little valiant, great in villainy!

Thou ever strong upon the stronger side!

Thou Fortune’s champion, that dost never fight

But when her humorous ladyship is by

To teach thee safety! Thou art perjured too,

And sooth’st up greatness.* What a fool art thou,

A ramping fool, to brag and stamp and swear

Upon my party! Thou cold-blooded slave,

Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side,

Been sworn my soldier, bidding me depend

Upon thy stars, thy fortune, and thy strength?

And dost thou now fall over to my foes?

Thou wear a lion’s hide! Doff it for shame,

And hang a calfskin on those recreant limbs.

Constance: King John 3.1.113-129

*sooth’st up greatness: to flatter the influential


Magna Charta and


30


Magna Charta and


Arthur leaps from the castle wall

Disguised as a ship-boy, Arthur leaps from the castle wall to his death (King John 4.3.1-10)

The Affect of the Crusades on King John

31

PANDULPH (the Pope’s legate):

Hail, you anointed deputies of heaven

To thee, King John, my holy errand is.

I, Pandulph, of fair Milan cardinal,

And from Pope Innocent the legate here,

Do in his name religiously demand

Why thou against the Church, our holy mother;

So willfully does spurn, and force perforce

Keep Stephen Langton, chosen Archbishop

Of Canterbury, from that Holy See.

This, in our foresaid Holy Father’s name,

Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee.

KING JOHN:

What earthy name to interrogatories

Can taste the free breath of a sacred king?

Thou canst not, Cardinal, devise a name

So slight, unworthy, and ridiculous,

To charge me to an answer, as the Pope.

Tell him this tale, and from the mouth of England

Add thus much more: that no Italian priest

Shall tithe or toll in our dominions;

But as we, under God, are supreme head,

So, under Him, that great supremacy

Where we do reign we will alone uphold

Without th’ assistance of a mortal hand.

So tell the Pope, all reverence set apart

To him and his usurped authority.

KING PHILIP (of France):

Brother of England, you blaspheme in this

KING JOHN:

Though you and all the kings of Christendom

Are led so grossly by this meddling priest,

Dreading the curse that money may buy out,

And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust.

Purchase corrupted pardon of a man

Who in that sale sells pardon from himself

Though you and all the rest, so grossly led,

This juggling witchcraft with revenue cherish,

Yet I alone, alone do me oppose

Against the Pope, and count his friends my

foes. --King John 3.1.136-171


Magna Charta and


The Oath of Fealty was renewed four days after King John signed the

Magna Charta

32

Four days after King John signed the Magna Carta (June 15, 1215), the Barons restored their Oath of Fealty to him

The Magna Charta is an original attempt to restrain leaders to proclaim

war without the consent of their nation

33

The Magna Carta (also called the Great Charter of English Liberties) is an original attempt to document the need of a leader to acquire the

consent of his/her nation before pursuing foreign war

The Magna Charta assured that individuals cannot be imprisoned without due process

34

The Magna Carta also assured that individuals cannot be imprisoned without due process--the foundation of

English common law and the individual liberties recognized by the United States Constitution.

An original Magna Charta is on exhibit at the San Francisco, California

Palace of the Legion of Honor from the University of Oxford Bodleian

Library until June 5, 2011

35

An original Magna Carta is on exhibit at the San Francisco Palace of the Legion of Honor until June 5, 2011. Normally restricted from public view, the Great Charter is

preserved by the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, England.

Timeline: 1205-1215

1215: Later during the year, the Barons armed themselves to battle King John. They captured London in

May 1215. 36


Magna Charta and


1205: King John disputed the rights of Pope Innocent III about who should be Archbishop of Canterbury,

and he therefore banished Stephen Langton, the Pope’s designee as an Archbishop, from his English

kingdom.

1209: King John was excommunicated by the Pope. At the same time, the Pope banished all worship

services and church functions throughout the parishes of the English King.

1212: King John struggled as attempted to reclaim his former lands of Aquitaine, Poitou and Anjou;

therefore, he levied taxes on the French Catholic Barons with whom he did argue over his ruling policies of

his English Kingdom (the rise of the Magna Charta to instill democratic freedoms.)

1215: Documented on January 1215, the “Articles of the Barons” set forth the orders to King John by

Stephen Langton and the Barons to govern by the old English laws of England that preceded the Norman

Invasion—Catholic Stephen Langton demanded that John govern by the original Anglo-Saxon laws.

Runnymede, King John, and Magna Charta Timeline

Timeline: 1215-1534

1534: Jesuits is a term that was applied by 1534 to members of the Society of Jesus, a Society or company

founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola, to propagate the Roman Catholic faith among the heathen through

methods of secrecy and discipline; the word has since suggested a deceiver or

prevaricator. 37 Exploring Democracy through

Magna Charta and


1215: In full armor, the Barons ambush King John at Windsor at which time John agreed to sign and send

the document on June 10, 1215 at Runnymede; June 15: The Oath of Fealty is renewed through King John.

1233 through the 17th Century: The Inquisition and Council of Trent are fully in force as the persecution of

Galilei Galileo (1564-1642) indicates, issues that were well understood by Shakespeare—the Inquisition

was originally established in 1233 by Pope Gregory IX to suppress heresy.

1212: King John struggled as he attempted to reclaim his former lands of Aquitaine, Poitou and Anjou;

therefore, he levied taxes on the French Catholic Barons with whom he did argue over his ruling policies of

his English Kingdom (the rise of the Magna Charta to instill democratic freedoms).

1412-1431: Joan of Arc patronizes the French King Charles VII, helping to win the Battle of Herrings, only

to be burned by the Holy See of the University of Paris through predominant English support; not until

Speed’s History of Great Britain (1611) was she beatified; not until 1920 did Pope Benedict XV canonize

her as a Saint.


Timeline: 15th through 17th Centuries; Welcoming Questions, Thoughts

38 Exploring Democracy through

Magna Charta and


1618-1648:Thirty Years War: Battle that devastated Central Europe, particularly Germany, and finally most

of Europe—quite a religious conflict between Protestants and Roman Catholic nations—Germany extended

its provinces to include the Calvinists.

1500s: Great 16th-Century Movement against the authority of the Roman Catholic Church that culminated in

the established Protestant religion. Its Chief leaders include Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and

John Knox. This Movement originated as a protest against religious-based crimes against humanity, unjust

abuse such as the execution of Joan of Arc, and it has profoundly affected politics and political implications

since then.

Questions? Welcoming your thoughts…


I. Listen to the entire broadcast

of King John at:

http://www.speak-the-speech.com/SOS.htm

II. Create a map of the characters in this historic play of King

John by going to the following:

http://mapper.nndb.com/start/?id=93144

III. Navigate the webquest on the following slide and explain

the concept that Joseph Papp describes as “Machiavellian

intrigue” typical of practices that are not humanitarian but

based on self-gratification and greed.

Activities

39


Magna Charta and








http://mapper.nndb.com/start/?id=93144

http://www.constitution.org/eng/magnacar.htm

40


http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/timeline-of-king-john.htm

http://broadband.ciconline.org/shakespeare/content/teachers.html

http://www.folger.edu/,

http://www.asdk12.org/depts/language_arts/curriculum/high/Electives

/Shakespeare.pdf ,

http://www.william-shakespeare.info/shakespeare-play-king-john.htm

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/ Exploring Democracy through

Magna Charta and


Webquest













http://broadband.ciconline.org/shakespeare/content/teachers.html

http://www.folger.edu/

http://www.asdk12.org/depts/language_arts/curriculum/high/Electives/Shakespeare.pdf

http://www.asdk12.org/depts/language_arts/curriculum/high/Electives/Shakespeare.pdf












http://shakespeare.mit.edu/



41

Boyce, C., White, D. (Ed. Consultant), & Hands, T. (Foreword).

(1990). Shakespeare A to Z. N.Y. & U.K.: Roundtable Press,

Facts on File.

Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates (ICAS)

(Spring, 2002). Academic literacy: A statement of competencies expected of students

entering California public colleges and universities. Sacramento, CA: ICAS. Retrieved

from http://icas-ca.org/Websites/icasca/Images/Competency/AcademicLiteracy2002.pdf

Kelly, A. R. (1950). Eleanor of Aquitaine and the four kings. Massachusetts: Harvard University

Press.

Shakespeare, W. (1955). The histories and poems of Shakespeare, illustrated edition, vol. 2,

Chicago: Spencer Press.

Shakespeare, W., Bevington, D. (Ed.), & Papp, J. (Foreword). (1988, January 1). The complete

works of William Shakespeare, vols. I-IV. New York: Bantam Classics, Pearson

Education.

Troutman, N. (2005, February, 25). The Magna Carta 1215. Retrieved from

http://www.constitution.org/eng/magnacar.htm Exploring Democracy through

Magna Charta and


References

Documents

Shakespeare's King John and Magna Carta