The Magna The Magna CartaCarta By: Maral ZahediBy: Maral Zahedi

What is the Magna Carta?What is the Magna Carta? A document that King John of England A document that King John of England

was forced into signingwas forced into signing King John was forced into signing the King John was forced into signing the

charter because it greatly reduced the charter because it greatly reduced the power he held as the King of England power he held as the King of England and allowed for the formation of a and allowed for the formation of a powerful parliament.powerful parliament.

The Magna Carta became the basis for The Magna Carta became the basis for English citizen's rights.English citizen's rights.

The Magna CartaThe Magna Carta

Was created in 1215 by Barons of King John of Was created in 1215 by Barons of King John of England England

It was reissued in the 13It was reissued in the 13thth century in modified century in modified versionsversions

The 1297 version The Great Charter of The 1297 version The Great Charter of Liberties of England, and the Liberties of the Liberties of England, and the Liberties of the Forest still remains on the statute books of Forest still remains on the statute books of England and WalesEngland and Wales

This was the first document that was forced This was the first document that was forced onto an English King by subjects, feudal onto an English King by subjects, feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by

law and protect there privileges.law and protect there privileges.

TheThe Great Charter of 1215Great Charter of 1215

1215 few of the most important barons engaged 1215 few of the most important barons engaged in an open rebellion against their kingin an open rebellion against their king

January 1215 barons demanded the King John January 1215 barons demanded the King John confirm the Charter of Liberties, from what they confirm the Charter of Liberties, from what they viewed as a golden age viewed as a golden age

Between January and June 1215, a document was Between January and June 1215, a document was produced which historians have termed ‘The produced which historians have termed ‘The Unknown Charter of Liberties’. Which later appear Unknown Charter of Liberties’. Which later appear in the ‘Articles of the Barons’ and the Runnymede in the ‘Articles of the Barons’ and the Runnymede Charter. Charter.

Clause 61Clause 61 This section establishes a committee of 25 barons This section establishes a committee of 25 barons

who could at any time meet and overrule the will who could at any time meet and overrule the will of the King if he defied the provisions of the of the King if he defied the provisions of the Charter, seizing his castles and possessions if it Charter, seizing his castles and possessions if it was considered necessary.was considered necessary.

This is based on a medieval legal practice know This is based on a medieval legal practice know as distraint, but this was the first time that it was as distraint, but this was the first time that it was applied to a monarchapplied to a monarch..

Clauses Still in Force TodayClauses Still in Force Today

Clause 1, Freedom of the English ChurchClause 1, Freedom of the English Church Clause 9, the “ancient liberties” of the city Clause 9, the “ancient liberties” of the city

London. (London shall have all the Old Liberties London. (London shall have all the Old Liberties and Customs which it hath been used to have.)and Customs which it hath been used to have.)

Clause 29, a right to due process. (NO freeman Clause 29, a right to due process. (NO freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised of shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised of his Freehold, or Liberties, or free Customs, or be his Freehold, or Liberties, or free Customs, or be outlawed. Or exiled, or any other wise destroyed; outlawed. Or exiled, or any other wise destroyed; nor will We not pass upon him, nor condemn him, nor will We not pass upon him, nor condemn him, but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the law but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the law of the land.)of the land.)

Important FactsImportant Facts

It is also referred to as the Magna Charter or the It is also referred to as the Magna Charter or the Great Charter Great Charter

The Magna Carta was signed by King John in a The Magna Carta was signed by King John in a meadow at Runnymede  in Egham, Surrey, South meadow at Runnymede  in Egham, Surrey, South England England

People Involved in the Magna Carta: King John of People Involved in the Magna Carta: King John of England, Archbishop Stephen Langton and the England, Archbishop Stephen Langton and the Barons Barons

The charter is considered to be the beginning of The charter is considered to be the beginning of constitutional government in England. The Magna constitutional government in England. The Magna Carta demonstrated that the power of the king Carta demonstrated that the power of the king could be limited by a written grant.could be limited by a written grant.

Challenges to the King’s Challenges to the King’s powerpower

The clauses 12 and 14 of the 1215 charter state The clauses 12 and 14 of the 1215 charter state that the king must accept the “common counsel of that the king must accept the “common counsel of out realm” when levying and assessing an aid or a out realm” when levying and assessing an aid or a scutage.scutage.

The clause that goes into great detail about how The clause that goes into great detail about how exactly the archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls and exactly the archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls and greater barons should be consulted is clause 14.greater barons should be consulted is clause 14.

These clauses meant that the monarch had to ask These clauses meant that the monarch had to ask before he raised the taxes.before he raised the taxes.

The later charters merely said that “Scutage The later charters merely said that “Scutage furthermore is to be taken as it used to be”, furthermore is to be taken as it used to be”, although in practice the convention arose after although in practice the convention arose after Magna Carta that Parliament would be consulted by Magna Carta that Parliament would be consulted by the monarch before raising taxes. the monarch before raising taxes.

King John and the Magna CartaKing John and the Magna Carta In 1205 King John argued with the Pope Innocent III In 1205 King John argued with the Pope Innocent III

over who should become the archbishop of Canterbury. over who should become the archbishop of Canterbury. The Pope wanted Stephan Langton to be the The Pope wanted Stephan Langton to be the archbishops, but King John promised he should never archbishops, but King John promised he should never come to England. come to England.

The Pope retaliated in 1209 and excommunicated King The Pope retaliated in 1209 and excommunicated King John and banned all church services in parish churches.John and banned all church services in parish churches.

The King gave in shortly, and the Pope made him and The King gave in shortly, and the Pope made him and the people pay him money whenever he demanded it.the people pay him money whenever he demanded it.

In 1212 the King imposed taxes to the Barons to make In 1212 the King imposed taxes to the Barons to make up for the lost lands of Aquitaine, Poitou and Anjou.up for the lost lands of Aquitaine, Poitou and Anjou.

King John argued with the Barons over how he should King John argued with the Barons over how he should rule England. rule England.

The Barons and Stephan Langton decided to make the The Barons and Stephan Langton decided to make the King govern by the old English laws that had come King govern by the old English laws that had come before the Normans.before the Normans.

Part .2 Part .2 The Barons took up arms against the King The Barons took up arms against the King The Barons capture London in May 1215The Barons capture London in May 1215 In June the Barons took King John by surprise at In June the Barons took King John by surprise at

Windsor and then he agreed to a meeting in Windsor and then he agreed to a meeting in Runnymede. Runnymede.

King John signed and sealed the document on June 10King John signed and sealed the document on June 10thth 12151215

The Barons renewed the Oath of Fealty to King John on The Barons renewed the Oath of Fealty to King John on June 15June 15thth 1215 1215

The royal chancery produced a formal royal grant, The royal chancery produced a formal royal grant, based on the agreements reached at Runnymede, based on the agreements reached at Runnymede, which became known as Magna Cartawhich became known as Magna Carta

Copies of the Magna Carta were distributed to bishops, Copies of the Magna Carta were distributed to bishops, sheriffs and other important people throughout Englandsheriffs and other important people throughout England

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/magna-carta.hthttp://www.middle-ages.org.uk/magna-carta.htmm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Cartahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

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